May 31--ASHTABULA -- Firefighters narrowly escaped injury Friday morning, when a second-story window fell on them while they battled a house fire.
A 9-1-1 call alerted the Ashtabula Fire Department at 12:16 a.m. for a three-story structure fire at 931 W. 43rd St.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames in what they believed to be vacant building which sometimes housed transients.
Griffin C. Thompson of Ashtabula owns the building, according to the Ashtabula County Auditor's web site.
Initially firefighters tried to conduct an interior attack, but encountered heavy heat and flames, and unstable floors and stairs, so they withdrew and switched to defensive operations.
The aerial truck was used to safely deliver water to stubborn areas of the second floor, firefighters said.
Ashtabula Township Fire Department and Community Care Ambulance responded to the incident, as well.
It took a total of 15 firefighters three hours , with three engines and an aerial ladder, to extinguish the blaze. Several firefighters narrowly avoided injury when a second story window fell on top of them.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Fire Prevention Bureau. Anyone having information is asked to call 440-997-7191.
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