An early morning fire engulfed the Schwarz Food Market in East Westwood, causing significant damage and total loss of the business. The blaze, reported around 1:30 a.m. today on Baltimore Ave., required the efforts of 60 firefighters to control the flames, as reported by WLWT. The freezing temperatures complicated the operation, which added ice to the mix and made for hazardous conditions.
According to FOX19, Cincinnati Fire Department's District Fire Chief Craig Coburn confirmed the market is considered a total loss, the cause of the fire is still being investigated, and no injuries have been reported. Emergency services battled the fire through the night, stepping up their response to a two-alarm fire due to the intensity of the flames and the extreme cold weather posing additional challenges.
The arrival of firefighters at the scene was prompt due to a burglary alarm triggered just before the discovery of the fire, which directed the police to the location. "As a result of proactive winter fire hydrant maintenance, fire companies experience no water supply issues even with the 3-degree temperature," a news release stated via FOX19, highlighting the preparedness of the crew despite the harsh conditions.
Metro services provided a critical support system by offering a coach as a warming center to help firefighters rotate and stay warm as they tackled the fire in shifts, enduring the punishing cold. A neighboring residence near the flaming building was evacuated as a precaution, yet fortunately, their home did not suffer any damage, Local12 reported.
