CANTON, Ohio — The Canton Fire Department said one person is dead and 10 others have been displaced after a house fire Sunday night.
Around 9:30 p.m., crews responded to the 1000 block of 5th Street SW, where heavy fire was coming from the front of a house.
Power lines were sparking, and flames from the fire reached a neighboring home. Firefighters said it took them an hour to get the fire under control.
On the first floor of the home the fire originated from, firefighters said they found the body of 32-year-old Brian Shackleford.
Due to the fire, 10 residents, including four children, are now displaced and being helped by the Red Cross.
One of those residents is 75-year-old Cielo Ruby, who bought her house with her husband five years ago. She now does not know where the two are going to go after they lost most of their belongings in the fire, including their vehicle.
"It's all that I got," Ruby said. "Now, I got nothing. I'm practically on the street. I got nothing. I lost everything."
The frigid temperatures and strong winds made the fire hard to control, causing it to spread to her house.
Ruby helped two families who were renting from her escape from the home unharmed.
"I made sure that everybody is safe, and after that, my husband and I would come out," Ruby said.
Both houses have been deemed unlivable and will need to be torn down. While the situation is tragic, Canton Fire Chief Steve Henderson said it could have been worse.
"Had it been later in the night, it might have been worse," Henderson said. "Had it been like two o'clock in the morning and everybody's asleep, that definitely could have been a lot worse."
Three firefighters were injured after slipping and falling, but they stayed to keep battling the flames. The Red Cross is now helping the victims with clothes, food and shelter.
Christy Peters with the Red Crosssaid people can help by donating to the organization's Disaster Relief Fund.
"If you do want to help out this specific family, the American Red Cross does honor donor intent, and we will work with you to find a way to make that happen," Peters said.
Ruby said the hours since the fire have been overwhelming as she thinks about all of the things she needs.
"Everything. I mean, everything, clothes, shoes, furniture, everything," Ruby said.
Firefighters plan to search the house again to see if there are any more victims.
A cause is expected to be determined within the next few days, firefighters said.
