Fire Kills Family Dogs; House Likely ‘Totaled’
A gas explosion injured two people, including an off-duty Hambden Township firefighter, and killed two dogs the afternoon of Nov. 21 in Montville Township.
A gas explosion injured two people, including an off-duty Hambden Township firefighter, and killed two dogs the afternoon of Nov. 21 in Montville Township.
The two residents of 15260 Hart Road were transported to Metrohealth Medical Center in Cleveland with burn injuries suffered when a propane gas leak caused an explosion followed by a fire at their home, said Montville Fire Chief Ron Jonovich.
Timothy Tobin, owner of the home and a firefighter with Hambden Fire Department, was apparently working on the furnace in the basement and on the stove on the first floor when the explosion occurred, Jonovich said.
Tobin was transported with serious injuries to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center before being transported via emergency helicopter to the burn center at Metrohealth Medical Center, the chief said.
Chardon Fire Department EMS transported Tobin’s daughter, Savannah, to Metrohealth, Jonovich said.
There were three people in the house at the time of the explosion, he said, adding the second daughter was examined by medics and chose to stay at the scene.
The two family dogs perished in the explosion, Jonovich said.
Firefighters were still at the scene after 7 p.m., said Montville Fire Assistant Chief Bryan Briskey.
The call came in at about 2:40 p.m., and when crews arrived, the structure was fully involved, he said.
“We had to bring in a lot of tankers,” Briskey said. “It looks like it’s going to be totaled.”
Fire departments from Hambden, Thompson, Middlefield, Chardon, Burton and from Lake and Ashtabula counties assisted Montville, Jonovich said.
According to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office, the 3,000-square-foot house on 5 acres was built in 1947 and is valued at $207,000.
The fire remains under investigation by the Geauga County Fire Investigation Unit and the state fire marshal, Briskey said.
