OTTAWA — Not only did firefighters have to deal with high temperatures with one house fire southwest of Ottawa Sunday afternoon, they also had to deal with exploding ammunition. When firefighters arrived at a fire in the 2100 block of Old Highway 50, ammunition and fireworks were exploding, Lincoln-Ottawa-Harrison fire chief David Gibbs said. Rather than order them to charge towards the fire with hoses, as they usually, do, Gibbs said he had firefighters stay back and use a water cannon to fight the fire instead. The fire started in a garage and spread to the house, he said. After the ammunition cooked off, firefighters then moved in but by then the fire was too far advanced, he said. The house was destroyed. Gibbs said he has no immediate estimate of the amount of damage. One firefighter was overcome by the heat and was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released, Gibbs said. Firefighters from the Ohio and Williamsburg township departments and the city of Ottawa helped LOH firefighters. Gibbs said the fire may have been caused by an electrical malfunction.
Monday, July 16, 1 p.m.
