ELYRIA, OH - Two separate fires two the lives of two people in Elyria over the weekend. Just before 3 a.m. early on Sunday morning, Elyria Firefighters were alerted to a reported apartment fire at 525 Georgetown Avenue, Building B. First arriving Engine 4 found heavy smoke conditions coming from the “B” building and a working fire in a top floor apartment, they immediately began an interior attack and additional arriving crews began searching the fire apartment and evacuating adjacent apartments. Prior to their arrival one occupant jumped from a top floor window of the involved apartment and was transported to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center. During a search of the fire apartment, 64-year-old Michael Harris, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Second Alarm was struck due to the size of the building and potential life hazard involved, this alarm brought help from Lorain, Elyria Township and Sheffield Village Fire Departments. The cause of the fire is under investigation, the southern apartment wing of building B sustained heavy heat and smoke damage to the top floor with water damage to the lower floors. Twelve apartments are uninhabitable at this time and the Red Cross assisted with emergency lodging for those who requested assistance. Damage is approximately $75,000 dollars to the building and $10,000 to contents.
Elyria Firefighters were called to an apartment fire at 172 Brunswick Drive located on the Southwest side on Sunday just before 1 p.m., first arriving Engine 3 found heavy fire and smoke conditions on the top floor of the complex. Crews made an interior attack on the fire and additional members were assigned to conduct a search of the apartment. A 70 year old male victim was found in a bedroom of the apartment and immediately removed, advanced life support was initiated by firefighters and LifeCare medics. The victim passed away in the emergency room of University Hospitals Elyria Campus.
Emergency lodging was needed for some of the residents and the damage in the fire apartment is severe with apartments below receiving water damage. Crews were on scene for several hours and damage is estimated at $20,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation and there were no other injuries. Sheffield Village Fire Department assisted on scene, as did Elyria Police and LifeCare.
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