Firefighters Douse Blaze at Vacant House

Mentor firefighters doused a fire at a vacant house Tuesday night.

Nobody lived at the house at 8350 Munson Road. Its owners had thought about fixing it up, Mentor Fire Lt. Eric Gartner said.

Authorities think the fire started because workers who were at the house earlier that day set a fire in the fireplace. However, the flames spread from the chimney to the walls, porch and other parts of the two-story wood house, Gartner said.

Firefighters arrived at the burning house about 10 p.m. and had it under control within 30 minutes. They sprayed the flames from outside the house.

The fire caused about $10,000 worth of damage, Gartner said. The lieutenant added that he did not know what condition the house was in, partly because he didn't know how sound the house was before the fire.

Nobody was in the house when firefighters arrived and no one was hurt fighting the fire.