Investigation continues into S. Toledo apartment fire

Blaze destroyed three buildings at Andover Apartments

5/19/2017

Station 21 Capt. Mike Romstadt, 2nd from right, took his crew by the Andover Apartments complex on Eastgate Road in Toledo to discuss issues like burn patterns and fire progression.

The Blade/Lori King
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Fire investigators are continuing their investigation today into the cause of the fire that tore through an apartment complex on Eastgate Road in South Toledo.

Pvt. Sterling Rahe, a spokesman for the Toledo Fire Department, said investigators are trying to place the origin of the blaze that destroyed three buildings at Andover Apartments.

"At this time the cause is undetermined. We are still investigating it," he said. "We really don't want to speculate [on a cause] right now."

Private Rahe put the cost of the 36 units destroyed in the fire at about $2.5 million, and the loss of the occupants' belongings at about $750,000.

The fire was reported about 3:15 p.m. Thursday after a resident saw smoke that appeared to becoming from outside the building. Private Rahe said a manager who was notified by the resident began evacuating residents.

He said firefighters were hampered in extinguishing the fire by winds as strong as 30 miles per hour.

VIDEO: Aftermath of Andover Apartments fire