Piqua apartment complex fire displaces 8 families

A fire at a Piqua apartment complex displaced eight families on Monday morning. Firefighters were called to the Piqua Village Apartment complex at 1345 Covington Ave. shortly after 9 a.m. Piqua Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Kennedy said that the occupants of one of the units woke to find smoke and flames inside their apartment. While Piqua and Covington fire departments were responding to the scene, Piqua Police officers went door-to-door and got all occupants from the eight apartment units outside to safety. “They (Piqua police) did a very good job,” Kennedy said. The fire was contained mainly to a single unit, but smoke damage and the need to disconnect electric service to the entire building, necessitated that all eight families housing elsewhere for the time being. They are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Piqua Daily Call

Dayton deputy fire chief promoted to fire chief

The City of Dayton announced Monday that Dayton Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Lykins has been promoted to Director and Chief of the Dayton Fire Department. City Manager Shelley Dickstein announced the promotion, saying a public ceremony will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 at 10 am at City Hall. Chief Lykins has been with the Dayton Fire Department since 1992, beginning as a firefighter before rising through the ranks to lieutenant in 2000, captain in 2008, assistant fire chief in 2015, and deputy chief in 2017. “Dayton is very well-served by our professional fire department, and we are confident that the tradition of excellence will continue under Chief Lykins’ leadership,” Dickstein said. “His experience, training and commitment to innovation have prepared him for the demands of the Director and Chief position.”
WDTN-TV 2

East Liverpool firefighters initially sent to wrong house during Sunday fire

A call for help was answered in Columbiana County Sunday but that help was sent to the wrong place. It was a house fire on Wooster Street in East Liverpool. “I heard sirens and look out my window, and there was flames coming up through the air,” said Nathan Smith, a neighbor. Jennifer Badgely was across the street and saw the fire from her deck. “Of course, I grabbed my coat, my boots and I ran over there because I knew the people were home because I saw the cars in the driveway,” she said. “As soon as I got to the house, the grandmother came out with the baby.” Badgely said she asked if anyone had called 911 and the woman said she was on the phone with the fire department. Dispatchers had gotten an address of 1707 Lisbon Street and sent emergency help there — on the other side of town, seven minutes away from where the fire actually was on Wooster Street.
WYTV-TV 33 News

Youngstown: Teen who fell into icy lake taken to hospital in car after ambulance doesn’t show

If we get into a life-threatening situation, we believe an ambulance will be there to make sure we get the emergency care we need. But Monday morning, an ambulance didn’t come when a teen in Youngstown needed one the most. First responders had to think outside the box to save her life. Just before 10 a.m., firefighters responded to a call for help at McKelvey Lake on the city’s east side. When they got there, rescue crews found a teen girl up to her waist in freezing cold water. They wasted no time jumping into action. “Roped off and the crew took my safety line, and I went out and pulled her back in and we assisted her back to the shore,” Lt. Tommy Gibbs said. Thanks to the quick action of firefighters from Station 12, the girl was pulled from the lake in just minutes. However, her rescue was interrupted because no ambulances were available to take her to the hospital.
WYTV-TV 33 News

Mutual aid called to help battle fire in Bath Township

Firefighters from multiple departments were called to help battle a fire in Bath Township Monday morning, according to fire officials. The fire broke out at around 10 am from a home in the 2000 block of National Road in Bath Township. When crews arrived, they found fire coming through the roof of the structure. A lot of additions were made to the building, making it difficult for crews to gain access and knock down the fire. A call for mutual aid was made to help battle the fire. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Fairborn assisted in putting out the fire. No one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. There is no estimate of damage that was caused to the house. National Road was blocked at the scene of the fire.
WDTN-TV 2

1 critical due to severe smoke inhalation from north Columbus fire

A house fire in north Columbus Thursday morning has been deemed accidental, according to the Columbus Division of Fire. Firefighters responded to the 100 block of East Blake Avenue around 6:30 a.m. after a neighbor driving to work saw the fire and called 911. Two people who live in the home were taken to local hospitals, according to Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin. The fire department said a woman was able to get out on her own by going through a second-story window to the porch roof. A man was found inside by firefighters and taken to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in critical condition due to severe smoke inhalation. Investigators with the Columbus Division of Fire said the fire was accidental and it started in the upstairs bedroom. How the fire started is still under investigation.
WBNS-TV Columbus 10

Refugee-Canyon Fire District officials appeal $15 dispatching fee; begin building new station

Officials from the new Refugee-Canyon Fire District this week asked the Licking County Commissioners for a break on the fee they are charged to dispatch emergency calls. According to Union Township and Refugee-Canyon Fire District Trustee Charlie Prince, their agency recently learned from Licking County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Grady they will have to begin paying a dispatch fee of $15 per run because they're a new entity. The new fire district was officially formed at the end of October following approval by Hebron's council members and Union Township's trustees. Despite the concern on the fee, the district is moving ahead with building a new station along Ohio 37. Hebron Mayor and fire district chairman Jim Layton expressed concerns about the dispatch fee, asking whether there was any written policy for the charge and whether any other Licking County departments were paying the fee.
Newark Advocate - Metered Site

Woman charged with arson in Sebring fire

A woman is facing aggravated arson charges surrounding a fire in Sebring that destroyed a duplex. Police arrested Karlie Hale, 33, Wednesday on four felony counts of aggravated arson. Investigators believe that Hale started the fire that ripped through a duplex Sunday on N. 16th Street. When crews arrived, flames were coming from the upstairs windows of the building. Several people were living in the home and everyone made it out safely. Police say Hale, a resident, was arrested following an investigation. Hale is being held in the Mahoning County Jail without bond. She scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Court in Sebring on January 23.
WYTV-TV 33 News

Follow-up: OPERS board cuts retirement health-care benefits for 500,000-plus

Retired public employees will have to pay more for their health care starting in January 2022 following a 9-2 vote this week by the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System board. “The basic problem is we have no money to fund health care,” OPERS Executive Director Karen Carraher said. The health care trust fund, which is separate from the pension fund, will last 11 years with no additional funding. But OPERS’ analysts estimate it will be at least 15 years before the pension fund can resume setting aside money for the health fund. “So, obviously, the math doesn’t work,” Carraher said. The goal, she said, is to keep the health care trust fund solvent, and that means cutting health benefits for its 304,000 workers when they retire and 213,000 current retirees.
Columbus Dispatch - Metered Site