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Fire destroys Shalersville home: Former trustee Larry Solak, wife hurt in early morning blaze that killed 80 pet birds

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Diane Smith
January 13, 2010
Family of Larry and Joanne Solak mill around the ruins of what used to be a family home.
Family of Larry and Joanne Solak mill around the ruins of what used to be a family home.
Family members of Larry and Joanne Solak pull soot stained bird cages out of their ruined home.
Family members of Larry and Joanne Solak pull soot stained bird cages out of their ruined home.

 

By Diane Smith

Record-Courier staff writer

SHALERSVILLE — A former township trustee and his wife were hospitalized Tuesday after an early morning fire cost them their home.

Larry and Joanne Solak escaped their burning home at 9971 Diagonal Road at about 2 a.m. Tuesday, said Chief Joseph Stoneberg of the Mantua-Shalersville Fire District.

The house, partially demolished during firefighting efforts, was a total loss, although no damage estimate was available.

Stoneberg said 80 pet birds and three dogs perished in the blaze. He said Joanne Solak ran an unofficial rescue program for the birds and had their cages located throughout the two-story house.

Larry Solak apparently was awake at the time of the fire while his wife was sleeping, according to reports. Solak initially attempted to fight the fire himself before getting his wife out of the house and calling the fire department, Stoneberg said.

By the time firefighters arrived, the front door had burned out and flames were shooting out of the front windows, he said. Firefighters had to bring in heavy equipment and knock down the back of the house in order to fight the fire at its source.

The origin point and cause of the fire were undetermined at press time, and the State Fire Marshal and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office  are investigating. It was unknown whether the house was equipped with smoke detectors.

The couple was transported to Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna where Larry Solak was listed in good condition and his wife, Joanne, was listed in fair condition on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters from the Mantua-Shalersville, Streetsboro, Kent, Aurora, Hiram, Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson and Ravenna Township fire departments battled the blaze. Some firefighters remained on the scene through much of Tuesday.

Solak, a two-term Shalersville trustee and two-time Republican candidate for Portage County commissioner, was defeated in his bid for a third term as trustee in November. His term ended in December.

 




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 5 Total Comments
5.
    Posted by fourironus January 19, 2010
Baldzilla that's funny. It's nice to know others have lost everything and keep smiling and plugging away. 80 birds throughout the house? I believe that birds should fly freely like they were made to do. I'm sorry for your loss. I drive past everyday on my way to work and pray for you, I feel worse for the dogs though.

4.
    Posted by THECLIENT January 17, 2010
I have started over three times and still have a sense of humor. Plus donate money in my new found career to these just causes. That is my Karma. Threaten me again with Karma and my Karma wallet will stay closed.

3.
    Posted by Mother January 15, 2010
To Baldzilla, You are a moron. all of those birds were abused, abandoned and neglected. JoAnne took excellent care of these animals, and their cages were immaculate. For you to even say such a thing, they lost everything!!! KARMA

2.
    Posted by THECLIENT January 15, 2010
Me too. 80 birds? I thought that much bird poop was bad for you? Methane detector installed?

1.
    Posted by sundancer2012 January 13, 2010
My deepest sympathies to the Solak family.

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