Brook Park Fire Department grappled with a house fire on Parkland Avenue, which a neighbor spotted smoking shortly before 10 a.m. yesterday. Quoting the neighbor, Karl Bartz, News 5 Cleveland reported, “I tried to extinguish the flames going up the stairs. I only got about halfway up the stairs. It was just engulfed in smoke - just choking on it, your eyes can’t see so I had to retreat from the building.” The fire was under control within 5 minutes, according to Brook Park FD Captain David McCarthy, with the sub-freezing temperatures briefly hindering their efforts due to a frozen hydrant.
As mentioned on Brook Park Fire Department's Facebook page, the response drew mutual aid from Middleburg Heights, Berea, Olmsted Falls, and Cleveland Airport Fire Departments. The dwelling showed heavy smoke and fire upon their arrival, with substantial damage despite the quick control of the blaze. In addition, North Olmsted FD and Parma Hts managed multiple medical calls—FD during the operation.
A 911 call from a concerned resident alerted authorities to the fire. Although the home was severely damaged, swift action led by the Brook Park Fire Department promptly confined a significant portion of the fire. Cleveland19 reached out for details on potential victims inside the home, but no information was provided at the time.
Investigators from the State Fire Marshall and the Fire Investigative Unit are piecing together a report to determine the cause of the incident. Meanwhile, the community heaves a sigh of relief, knowing the blaze did not result in immediate reports of injuries or fatalities. However, specific details about a resident's condition, alerted by his medical alert device, have not been publicly detailed. Bartz relayed to News 5 Cleveland that the senior homeowner had fallen but did not wish to be taken to the hospital, stating, “They had him up in a chair and he said he was fine.”
