Firefighters with the Nimishillen Township Fire Department were dispatched to a second structure fire Thursday afternoon after returning to their stations from an earlier call, according to fire officials.
The second fire was reported around 3:34 p.m. in the 8900 block of Columbus Road NE. Crews arrived to find a large storage building heavily involved with fire.
Officials said firefighters were able to quickly regroup and respond fully staffed and prepared despite having just cleared a smaller structure fire earlier in the afternoon. The fire developed rapidly, but crews were able to gain control of the blaze within a short time after arriving on scene, preventing it from extending to nearby structures.
Due to the size and intensity of the fire, the Nimishillen Township Fire Department requested mutual aid. STARCOM Dispatch initiated box alarms, bringing assistance from surrounding fire departments across the area. Responding agencies included Louisville Fire, Marlboro Township Fire, Osnaburg Township Fire, Plain Township Fire, Washington Township Fire, Lexington Township Fire, Greentown Fire, Hartville Fire and the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
Fire officials praised the quick response from mutual aid companies and STARCOM Dispatch, noting that strong working relationships with neighboring departments contributed to the successful containment of the fire.
No injuries were reported among occupants or firefighters. While the fire resulted in property loss, officials said all personnel involved returned home safely.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Fire officials also asked the public to respect the privacy of the property owners affected by the incident.
