Late Monday afternoon, a backyard burn near East 123rd Street and Iowa Avenue in Cleveland’s B6 battalion turned into a costly, wind-driven house fire that pushed an entire family out of their home. Three adults and four children were displaced as flames spread, while firefighters managed to rescue two dogs and one cat. A second cat was still unaccounted for. Crews reported no injuries, smoke alarms inside the home were working, and losses were pegged at about $100,000.
How the fire started and spread
According to Cleveland Fire, the trouble began with an open burn in the backyard that turned wind‑driven and quickly got out of hand. Flames moved into neighboring yards and fencing, and crews on scene requested an extra engine and ladder to keep pace with the growing fire.
Cleveland Fire reported that the blaze extended to a neighbor’s siding before firefighters brought it under control. The department placed the estimated property loss at about $100,000, underscoring how fast a backyard flame can turn into a serious neighborhood problem when the wind picks up.
Residents, pets and aid
“Open burning is dangerous and illegal in the City of Cleveland,” Cleveland Fire wrote in its Facebook post on the incident. The department noted that three adults and four children made it out safely but were displaced, and that two dogs and one cat were pulled from the home. One cat remained missing after the fire…