DAYTON — UPDATE @ 7:15 A.M.
Multiple homes were damaged after an early morning fire in a Dayton neighborhood on Tuesday.
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Dayton firefighters responded just before 2 a.m. to the 0 block of Livingston Avenue on a reported structure fire, according to Dayton District Fire Chief Nick Judge.
When firefighters arrived, a long-time vacant house was fully involved with flames.
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Chief Judge told our news crew that this was a wind-driven fire, as two adjacent homes were also on fire at the same time.
“Our priorities became getting occupants out of both sides, both exposure houses on either side, and putting our focus on getting the fire out in those houses,” he said. “And essentially, riding off the vacant house is a loss at that point.”
Chief Judge also said that neither house was livable. The left side of the wall of the vacant home fell onto the adjacent homes.
The Red Cross is looking for places for them to stay.
He added that this is the time of year for vacant fires.
“They’re always suspicious in the vacant homes since there’s no utilities to the houses,” said Chief Judge. “But this time of year, we get a lot of people in and out of them. You know, they start warming fires and stuff.”
He said the vacant home is scheduled to be destroyed later today.
Chief Judge encouraged people to call 333-COPS or 222-STOP if they suspect someone is occupying a vacant home.
We will continue to update this story.
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