A lightning strike is being blamed for a fire Saturday morning that gutted a home north of Bowling Green at 19728 Hull Prairie Road, according to Middleton Township Fire Chief Andrew Carter and Bowling Green Fire Captain Nathan Espinoza.
The fire was reported at 10:20 a.m., after lightning struck the garage. A couple and their dogs were home at the time, and all made it out of the house safely. One firefighter was transported to the hospital for heat exhaustion. He was treated and released.
Initial fire departments responding to the scene included Bowling Green, Middleton Township and Perrysburg City. When the fire call came in, Middleton Township Fire Department was on the scene of a car crash on Interstate 75, so additional assistance was requested from Bowling Green and Perrysburg departments.
When BG firefighters arrived first to the scene, heavy fire was showing from the garage and attic above the garage, according to Espinoza. Wind conditions quickly pushed the fire through the attic above the living portions of the house.
The home is likely a complete loss.
Additional assistance providing tankers and relief crews at the scene came from Center Township, Central Joint, Grand Rapids, Pemberville-Freedom, Perrysburg Township, Washington Township, Waterville and Weston.
The State Fire Marshal was called in for the investigation of the blaze. Wood County Sheriff’s Office provided traffic control.
Initially water supply at the scene was an issue. Approximately 33,600 gallons of water was used. A water shuttle had to be established due to the lack of fire hydrants in the area. A hydrant in the Georgetown neighborhood was used as a fill site.
Once the majority of the fire was out, it was decided to begin sending crews inside to begin overhaul and put out hotspots.
With guidance from the homeowners, several valuables and family heirlooms were removed from the house and given directly to them.
Bowling Green, Perrysburg City, and Middleton Township firefighters performed several work/rehab cycles and got the majority of the hotspots knocked down. Relief units from various departments were brought in to finish overhaul and cool down hot spots.
The American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the family.
Bowling Green Fire Division also responded to a fire at the Cooper plant on North Main Street on Friday at 4:06 p.m. Crews were called Frontier, 160 W. Wooster St., on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. for what sounded like an explosion and smoke showing. The smoke was reportedly caused by a diesel generator firing up due to a power outage. The rear of the building had to be ventilated.
