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Fire destroys home, garage

A mobile home and detached garage were destroy by a fire Sunday in Negley. (Photo courtesy of East Palestine Fire Department)

NEGLEY — A man was taken to an area hospital after he was burned trying to save his family’s dog during a fire on Sunday.

Negley Fire Chief Gary Banicki said firefighters were called to 47721 Carmel Achor Road at 4:24 p.m. and were at the property within six minutes.

When firefighters from Negley, East Palestine, New Waterford and Glenmoor arrived they found Ken Cunningham and his wife and son outside the home, which had ignited when a fire from the nearby garage spread through to the roof of the mobile home, Banicki said.

Cunningham owns the home, which is insured.

Banicki said Cunningham was able to save the dog, which was tied up near the garage, and the dog was not injured.

Cunningham was injured, however, and taken by ambulance to an area hospital for his burns. He was out of the hospital and doing better as of Monday, Banicki said.

Cunningham’s wife and son also escaped injury, as did the firefighters who were trying to extinguish the fire inside the home when the roof collapsed over the kitchen area, he added.

The chief said it appears that the fire was possibly caused by a battery charger that was connected to a tractor in the garage, although the fire is still under investigation.

The fire spread from the detached garage to the area of the home between the shingles and interior ceiling of the home, located about 15 to 20 feet away from the garage, Banicki said.

The garage was already destroyed by the time firefighters arrived.

The firefighters’ efforts were moved to outside of the home after the roof collapsed, and the fire was under control after about 40 minutes, he added.

He also said that firefighters had a few tactical problems getting to the home situated at the end of a one-lane driveway about a quarter-mile long.

As a result, only one fire engine could actually access the property, and firefighters fed the remaining hose down the length of the driveway.

Banicki said East Palestine firefighters set up a fill site at a dry hydrant located on Sprucevale Road to provide additional water.

In all, 14 firefighters from the departments responded. Glenmoor was called to assist due to the difficulty accessing the property, he explained.

The family is getting assistance from the Lake and River Chapter of the American Red Cross in Youngstown in the meantime, he added.

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