A fire tore through a two-story home on Union Avenue SW on Wednesday afternoon, forcing three residents to flee and leaving one dog dead.
The Canton Fire Department was dispatched to 619 Union Ave SW at 1:02 p.m. and arrived within three minutes to find heavy flames at the rear of the house, driven toward the front by strong winds. Fire crews assisted two adult females and one adult male as they exited the home. One of the women was transported to Aultman Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Several pets were inside the residence at the time of the fire. Two birds and one dog were pulled from the structure by the residents before firefighters arrived. Another dog, which suffered burns and smoke inhalation, was rescued by fire crews, treated on-site, and taken to a veterinarian by a family friend. Two cats were later found alive after the fire was extinguished, but one dog perished in the blaze.
The fire caused extensive damage to the home, which officials say will likely need to be demolished. The Red Cross was called to assist the displaced residents. No firefighter injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The estimated damage to the structure is valued at $54,100, with content losses still being assessed.
