One dead after stabbing at fire in Ross Twp., second house heavily damaged

The Ross Twp. Fire Department responded to two house fires in fewer than four hours Tuesday, one that ended with a person dead apparently from a stab wound and the other heavily damaging a residence, according to township officials.

Firefighters were called at about 3:15 p.m. to a structure fire on Cardinal Avenue. They found a man inside, but he reportedly stabbed himself in the chest when firefighters tried to pull him from the blaze.

A medical helicopter was called and landed, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Ross Twp. Fire Chief Steve Miller.

The fire, which was contained in one room, is under investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office. It is believed to be arson.

“The victim had barricaded the room of origin, so it was hard to get to that fire,” Miller said.

Firefighters were just finishing up at that fire when a second structure fire call came in at about 6:45 p.m. in the 2800 block of Red Wing Court, Miller said.

“The house was fulling involved on arrival,” Miller said. No one was home at the time and a neighbor was able to save the family dog.

There is a hydrant in the area but it is for flushing water lines, not fire suppression, Miller said.

“It flows less than 200 gallons per minute so that is not that is not intention, for fire protection use,” the chief said. Water was trucked in with the help of mutual aid for surrounding fire departments.

No damage estimate or cause were available Wednesday.

Staff Writer Denise Callahan contributed to this report.