Mulberry Street house fire sends man to hospital with life threatening injuries

LANCASTER - A man was taken to the hospital after his home caught fire Friday night on East Mulberry Street.

According to a city police report, the man was initially transported to Fairfield Medical Center, then flown to an Ohio State hospital with life threatening injuries.

Message left with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center media relations department has not been returned.

Lancaster firefighters were called to the house in the 600 block of East Mulberry Street shortly before 7 p.m. Friday.

Lancaster Fire Department Capt. Brian Archer said flames were coming from the front and side of the house when firefighters arrived.

According to Lancaster Fire Department Capt. K.J. Watts, the two residents were home but were out of the house when they arrived.

Initially neighbors told firefighters they weren't sure if the home's residents were out of the building or not. As firefighters started to search the building, neighbors told them the man who lives at the house was safely on a neighboring porch.

The residents had two pets, and Archer said firefighters were able to safely get one of them out of the house.

According to the police report, the second dog was not located and is believed to be dead.

Watts said the house suffered significant damage and buildings on both sides also had melted siding. He said the fire appeared to have started on the first floor of the house.

Damages are estimated at $75,000 structure and $15,000 contents, bascially a total loss.

By 9:30 p.m. a Lancaster Fire Department investigator was going through the house trying to determine how the fire started. At that time Archer said crews would remain on the scene for a bit longer to check for hot spots in the house.

The American Red Cross was on the scene to assist the people who live in the home.

Firefighters from Greenfield, Hocking and Pleasant townships also responded to the call.