RIDGEWAY — An explosion woke the neighborhood on East Hale Street in Ridgeway on Monday night.
Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed a Ridgeway home Monday. (PHOTO | DAN ROBINSON, KENTON TIMES)
At about 10 p.m., said Ridgeway Fire Chief Jim Newland, the blast awakened the family of Jason Parker at 279 E. Hale, along with his neighbors. Ridgeway residents beat on doors and help spread the word of the fire, said Newland.
Neighbors told the Times they saw a fireball when the fire started and explosions continued to be a concern as the firefighters arrived on the scene.
The Parker family was able to escape with injuries, but their home was destroyed in the blaze, said Newland.
He praised the mutual aid among the fire departments in the area to come to the assistance of the Ridgeway firefighters. At the time the call came in, said Newland, there were only three local firefighters available to respond to the call.
Much time was saved by the mutual aid agreement, he said.
“But thanks to our planning, we knew there was help on the way,” he said.
Members of the Hardin County Fire and Explosion Team worked through the night and were on the scene again this morning in an attempt to determine the cause of the explosion. It appears the fire started outside the house and near the garage, said Newland. One of the theories being considered by investigators is the possibility the fire started with the car parked outside the garage, said the chief.
With other houses close to the burning, exploding home, said Newland, there was a special concern placed on preventing the flames from spreading to the other homes.
The fire spread to a camper behind the house, said Newland, and it, too, was destroyed in the fire.
The Ridgeway department was assisted by firefighters from Bokescreek, Rushcreek, Liberty Township in Raymond, Richland Township in Belle Center, Kenton, Mount Victory and Scioto Valley of LaRue. EMT assistance was provided by the Southeastern Hardin Ambulance District, BKP and BMRT of Belle Center.