A woman was hospitalized and a cat was rescued after a fire broke out in a Canton apartment Friday morning, authorities said.
The Canton Fire Department responded to the scene at 3123 Kalahari St. NE around 9:14 a.m. after receiving reports of a fire. According to investigators, the blaze began in a recliner where a 64-year-old woman was smoking while using medical oxygen.
The woman initially attempted to put out the fire, but it re-ignited. By the time firefighters arrived, flames were coming from the front windows of the apartment. Neighbors had already helped the woman escape from the unit.
Fire crews were able to bring the blaze under control, but not before it caused heavy damage to the woman’s apartment and moderate damage to a neighboring unit. Power to the entire building—including three additional apartments—was shut off as a precaution.
The woman was treated on scene and transported to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A cat was rescued from the fire and successfully revived by medics on site.
The American Red Cross was called to assist both the woman and a man displaced from the adjoining apartment. No firefighter injuries were reported.
