Ross Street home declared ‘total loss’ after fire

A fire at a rental property at 217 N. Ross St. caused extensive damage to the home on Wednesday morning.

Columbus firefighters were called at 9:11 a.m. after neighbors discovered the fire and called 911. When firefighters arrived, they found a single-story home with heavy fire showing from the front of the residence, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.

A search of the home’s interior confirmed that no occupants were inside. With the fire under control, crews began the process of removing ceiling and wall drywall to extinguish flames that had extended into the structure of the home, Wilson said.

The home and contents sustained significant damage, he said. The damage to the home and contents are estimated at $60,000 and are considered a total loss, Wilson said.

The house next door at 211 N. Ross St. sustained damage from the immense heat from the fire, Wilson said. That home’s vinyl siding melted as a result of radiant heat. Firefighters cooled the area and, after an inspection of 211 N. Ross St., it was determined that the damage was confined to that home’s exterior.

Columbus Fire Department investigators said that 217 N. Ross Street is a rental property and occupants of the home were away when the fire occurred. As fire crews worked to extinguish the fire, an occupant of the home arrived at the scene and experienced a medical emergency. The tenant was transported to the hospital by ambulance for an evaluation. The condition of that individual is unknown, Wilson said.

The cause is under investigation. Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service, Columbus City Utilities, Duke Energy and CenterPoint Energy.