First Posted: 3/19/2015
BATH TOWNSHIP — An odor investigation led officials to an arson of a vacant home earlier this week.
The Bath Township Fire Department responded at 7:30 p.m. Monday to 5165 Sandusky Road.
When homeowner Bill McKissick, of Lima, made a visit to maintain the house, he called the fire department to report a smoky odor emitting from the home. McKissick was the landlord and rented the house to others, Bath Township Fire Chief Joseph Kitchen said.
There were no signs of forcible entry to the home. When officials arrived, McKissick let them in.
Kitchen said there were multiple origins of fire within the interior of the home, causing significant smoke damage inside the residence.
The fire had burned itself out some time before the damage was discovered, Kitchen said. He could not estimate when the fire went out, how long it had burned and how hot the inside of the home had been.
The exterior of the home sustained relatively little damage, and no neighboring properties were affected, Kitchen said.
The home was essentially empty. The damage was estimated at $15,000 to the structure and $3,000 to the contents of the home.
The fire was ruled arson, but it remains under investigation.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were no suspects. The case under investigation by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office and the Bath Township Fire Department.
The two agencies are seeking additional information from the public.
Anyone with information may call the fire department at 419-221-0550, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office detective bureau at 419-227-3535, or Lima/Allen County Crime Stoppers at 419-229-7867.
