Family escapes house fire

SANDUSKY — A family of four is safe after a fire broke out at their home in the 1500 block of Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) on Saturday afternoon. Sandusky fire received the call around 4 p.m. and arrived to flames coming out of the north side windows on the first floor. There was also a fire on the second floor. "They found it was in the walls and worked its way into the attic," Sandusky fire Chief Mario D'Amico said. "It was already a pretty deep-seated fire once we arrived." Firefighters had difficulty accessing the attic, D'Amico added. The ladder truck was brought in to help knock down that portion of the fire. Firefighters from Perkins, Huron and Margaretta also responded to the scene. There were at least 25 firefighters working together to extinguish the fire. The family made it out of the home along with a dog. Two cats were missing, D'Amico said. One of the residents was transported to Firelands Regional Medical Center for possible smoke inhalation. The fire caused extensive damage to the home. The cause was unknown, but it would be investigated once the home was safe to enter.