LIMA — An early morning house fire destroyed one home and damaged a nearby house.
No injuries were reported in the fire at 774 S. Metcalf St. Someone driving by reported the fire at 5:25 a.m., said Battalion Chief Ed Hower.
A cause for the fire remains under investigation, Hower said.
The fire damaged a home at 770 S. Metcalf St., breaking windows, melting siding and causing fire damage on the wall facing the burning house, Hower said.
The house at 774 S. Metcalf St. was a complete loss, with damage estimated at $28,000, Hower said. The home is owned by Colby and Lana Bowman, according to Allen County Auditor records.
A structure behind the home at 774 S. Metcalf St., possibly an old garage converted into living quarters where someone lived, had damage to the siding, Hower said.
The home at 770 S. Metcalf St. is owned by Susan K. Risser, according to auditor records. Hower did not have an estimated damage value assigned to that house yet, he said.
The home where the main fire occurred was a rental property and may have been vacant, Hower said. The occupants of the home at 770 S. Metcalf St., another rental property, cannot live there until repairs are made. The American Red Cross is helping them, Hower said.
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