The fire was originally reported to Centerville Fire dispatchers as a garage fire, according to a dispatcher. The call came in at 5:10 a.m. Firefighters had the fire extinguished by 10 a.m.
When firefighters arrived they noticed the four-car garage totally engulfed and and that the fire was starting to spread to the four-unit condo building, according to Washington Twp. Deputy Fire Chief Jim Neidhard. Intense heat may have allowed the flames to transfer from the detached garage to some vehicles and then to the building.
The occupants had evacuated prior to the fire department’s arrival. “I believe neighbors were knocking on doors, alerting occupants to the fire,” Neidhard said. The number of occupants was unknown as of 9:45 a.m.
The fire department received assistance from several jurisdictions.
The condo complex is located off of Cranston Court and behind the Savona Restaurant and Wine Bar, which is off South Main Street.
“It got a head start because it is nestled back here. People are sleep. It’s harder to see (the complex) from the road, in this area. So, it took a little longer for somebody to report it,” Neidhard said.
The condo units affected are expected to be uninhabitable for a while. “The power is shut off,” Neidhard said. “I’m sure all of them have smoke damage. Some of them have a lot of fire damage. As a group, they will be uninhabitable for a time period.”
The fire also destroyed several vehicles.
Cranston Court will be shut down at South Main Street while firefighters investigate the fire.