A historic Cincinnati house met its demise early Friday morning when flames engulfed the 19th-century structure, leaving it in ruins. The Cincinnati Fire Department responded to the distress call at 1:21 a.m. in South Fairmount’s 1700 block of Harrison Avenue. Assistant Fire Chief Matt Flagler confirmed the age of the home, “built in 1895,” and its condition as a “total loss” due to the fire’s intensity, as reported by FOX19.
Efforts to battle the blaze were complicated by the home’s perch upon a steep hill, an element adding to the difficulty for firefighters to move swiftly in and out. A mechanical issue with a nearby fire hydrant further impeded the rapid response needed to contain the fire. Despite these obstacles, no injuries were reported, and crews continued to work through the morning, extinguishing residual hot spots. This information was detailed in a statement obtained by WLWT.
According to officials, the structure had been in a dilapidated state, “poor condition prior to the fire,” and had a history of occupation by squatters, although no one was found inside during the incident. The extensive damage was estimated at approximately $280,000. The investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing, as confirmed by local authorities. The remark on the condition of the home was featured in a report by LOCAL12…