Perkins home suffers fire

PERKINS TWP. — Seven people were displaced after a Monday night fire in Perkins Township. Just before midnight, first responders were called to the 3600 block of Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) for the report of a structure fire. That location is near the American Legion. They arrived to find smoke coming from a two-story home. Firefighters quickly set about knocking down the flames and extinguishing the fire. The home contains two apartments. Two adults and two children from one apartment and two adults and one child from the other were already out of the building when police arrived, according to Perkins police Officer Tonya Corbin. All of the residents made it out with no injuries. Two cats died in the blaze, Corbin said. The flames were quickly snuffed and fire crews from Perkins Township and Sandusky spent the next several hours rooting out hot spots. Hayes Avenue was closed between Wade Boulevard and West Strub Road for about three hours early Tuesday morning. Crews were called back to the home late Tuesday morning due to the fire rekindling, according to Perkins fire Chief Dave Murphy. The road was then closed again for about four hours late Tuesday morning into the afternoon. The fire's cause is undetermined, according to Murphy, though foul play is not suspected. Utility crews arrived to disconnect both the gas and power to the house. The Red Cross assisted the residents after the fire. A loss in value to the structure and contents was not available as of Tuesday afternoon.