A fire the day after Christmas at a triplex on West Blvd. in Cleveland has forced three separate families to find housing elsewhere.
Nick and Samantha Dawson lived in one of the lower units for about three years. It’s where they started a new phase of life together.
“It’s the house we got married in. The house we found out I was pregnant and where we brought Theo home,” Samantha said.
The family of three celebrated an extra special Christmas this year, their baby son Theo’s first.
“You have this huge high of you know being a first-time parent experiencing this huge holiday, and then the day after you lose your home. It’s brutal,” Nick said.
The fire didn’t originate in the couple’s unit but the one above them. The fire department said an unattended candle caused it. Damage is estimated to be more than $100,000.
When the fire started, Nick was watching TV. His wife and son were taking a nap.
“All of a sudden, I heard somebody on our porch and banging on our door… somebody yelling ‘You need to get out of the house. It’s on fire,’” Nick recalled. “I ran upstairs, got her, got the dog, got the baby out, and we were all able to get out really quickly.”