A two-alarm house fire erupted Wednesday around 3 p.m. on the 1300 block of A P Jones Street in Cincinnati's Northside neighborhood, drawing a heavy response from firefighters and a crowd of worried neighbors. Crews spent the afternoon battling the flames, while officials held off on confirming whether anyone was hurt or how extensive the damage might be.
Two-alarm response and on-scene updates
According to WLWT, the Cincinnati Fire Department quickly escalated the incident to a two-alarm response, sending additional units to the scene. Assistant Chief Matt Flagler responded to the fire and was expected to provide an update, but as of the latest report, WLWT noted that both the number of injuries and the full scope of the damage were still unknown while crews remained on site.
Assistant chief leading the response
Flagler serves as an assistant fire chief in charge of emergency management for the Cincinnati Fire Department, according to a City of Cincinnati announcement. That position typically puts him at the center of large-scale incidents like this one, coordinating resources and serving as a primary voice to brief residents and the media.
Block has seen serious fires before
This block of A P Jones Street has not exactly had a quiet year. Earlier in 2024, WCPO reported a separate two-alarm blaze on the same 1300 block that left a home a total loss, though no one was injured in that incident. Fire coverage in the area has also pointed out that older, tightly packed homes in parts of Northside can make firefighting trickier and sometimes mean departments need extra mutual-aid support, FOX19 reported.
Investigation and impact on neighbors
Officials told WLWT that the cause of Wednesday's fire is still under investigation. Residents were urged to steer clear of the area while firefighters continued their work. This story will be updated as the Cincinnati Fire Department or other city officials release additional details or an official statement.
-2.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)