Euclid fire officials are investigating after towering flames destroyed a home in the 27000 block of Shirley Avenue early Sunday morning.
The Euclid Fire Department responded to the scene around 3:15 a.m. and discovered a single-family home engulfed in a fire that had begun to spread to the neighboring house, according to authorities.
After nearly an hour, a crew of 16 Euclid firefighters were able to douse the flames and contain any further damage, authorities said. Fire officials said no one was home at the time of the fire.
A nearby electrical transformer that blew during the incident caused additional concern to the neighborhood as power was interrupted to multiple houses in the area.
Neighbors saw children running out of nearby homes, barefoot in their pajamas. They brought them inside, covered them with blankets, and made them hot chocolate.
"I thought, oh my gosh, they’re freezing, they need to get warm, they’re probably scared out of their minds," Ashlie said. "I just wanted them to be safe, that’s all I thought."
Her mother-in-law Linda has lived on the street for decades. She said in the past, every neighbor knew one another. Now, it took the fire for many of them to meet.
"And it shouldn't have to take a tragedy, a fire, or a horrible thing that happens to get people together to watch over, to be close, to make sure everybody is safe," Linda said.
Damages to the house are estimated at $70,000 and the neighboring house is estimated to have suffered around $10,000 in damages.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and is currently under investigation. Arson signs are posted on the home, offering a reward up to $5,000 for information.
