A vacant house on Susanna Way in New Richmond went up in flames early Sunday, turning a quiet riverfront block into an overnight fire scene as crews from across Clermont County rushed in to help.
Multiple departments battled the blaze
Firefighters were dispatched to the Susanna Way home around 12:15 a.m., and officers on scene said the house is vacant, though the owner may have been at the property when the fire started. Clermont County dispatch told reporters that no one was taken to the hospital and that at least seven departments responded. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to WLWT.
Small department leaned on mutual aid
The village’s Fire & EMS operates with a small paid staff supported by volunteers and typically relies on mutual aid for major structure fires, according to New Richmond Fire & EMS. That setup helps explain why multiple neighboring agencies were on scene so quickly to back up firefighting efforts and secure water supply. Mutual aid remains a routine lifeline for Clermont County communities when large fires break out overnight.
Susanna Way has seen recent safety concerns
Susanna Way has already been on officials’ radar for safety issues, with nearby properties drawing inspections and legal action in recent years. Reporting by WCPO details a 2025 fire at 310 Susanna Way and a separate case that brought in the Cincinnati Bomb Squad to remove decades-old blasting caps. Those incidents pushed village leaders to pursue demolitions and repairs at unsafe buildings along the riverfront stretch.
Investigation and public notice
Authorities say the cause of Sunday’s fire remains under active investigation and are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, WLWT reported. Dispatchers reported no injuries, and officials have not released additional details while investigators continue their work at the scene.
