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EAST LIVERPOOL -- An East Liverpool firefighter was injured when falling through a floor while providing assistance to Liverpool Township firefighters at a structure fire at 1180 Forsyth Place Monday night.
East Liverpool Firefighter Lt. Josh Coil was taken to the hospital by East Liverpool EMS where he was treated for minor burns and scrapes and released.
Liverpool Township Assistant Fire Chief Donny Danvers and East Liverpool Assistant Fire Chief Lance Smith were able to pull him out through a window.
"I couldn't go any further. We were inside, the floor dropped off, and the house was hanging over, and I couldn't reach him," Liverpool Township Fire Chief Jacob Russell said. "Luckily Donny (Danvers) and Lance (Smith) they were able to knock basement window where most of the fire was at and knocked down were able to stick their arms in and drag him out through a basement storm window."
East Liverpool Fire Chief Antony Cumo said it happened within arm's reach of the front door and that it was a freak incident. Coil backed up to avoid getting hit by embers then went to push forward again and went through the floor.
"We are fortunate that he is okay," Cumo said.
No one is currently staying in the house, but it is not a vacant house; it's just not currently occupied by the owner full-time, Russell said. While the homeowner does not reside there, he was there earlier in the day.
The house sustained heavy fire damage to the basement and smoke damage throughout the house
Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department received automated mutual aid from the East Liverpool Fire Department with firefighters and EMS and then Glenmoor and Calcutta volunteer fire departments were called in to assist. Also on scene were AEP, Columbiana Gas and the water company to cut the utilities to the residence and Liverpool Township Police.
Fire departments were called out to the fire at 7:14 p.m. and cleared the scene sometime after 10 p.m., checking for hot spots and waiting for the utility companies to arrive.
Russell does not have any suspected cause for the fire and noted that it is under investigation by the state fire marshal.
The state fire marshal's investigation was put on hold, however, when the fire marshals had to be pulled off the scene to inspect a fire on Ohio Avenue in East Liverpool which ultimately resulted in a fatality at about 2 a.m.
Russell spoke with the fire marshals on Tuesday who told him they would probably be at the Ohio Avenue fire scene most of the day.
Russell also spoke with the homeowner, who he had a hard time reaching at the time of the fire due to the owner not having a cell phone, and the homeowner's insurance company, who verified the home was insured.
The house is salvageable, with most of the damage in the basement since the fire didn't reach the upstairs walls or the roof joists, Russell said. Windows which were boarded by the insurance company will need to be replaced since the windows were knocked out due to the amount of heat in the house. The homeowner wants the house to be repaired.
"I just want to thank everybody who assisted us. I appreciate all of their help," he said. "Everybody worked good together. I couldn't ask for any better turn out of guys."
kgarabrandt@mojonews.com