By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
Two firefighters were sent to the hospital with minor injuries Friday after a fire broke out on the second floor of an East Riddle Avenue home in Ravenna just after 4:30 p.m.
Firefighters from four departments battled the blaze at 110 E. Riddle Ave. and extinguished the flames in less than 20 minutes.
Two Ravenna firefighters were injured after climbing the stairs to battle the blaze, when large chunks of ceiling debris fell on top of them, sending them to Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ravenna Fire Chief Geoffrey Cleveland said.
"When they left, they were in stable condition," he said, declining to give their names.
No other injuries were reported. The sole occupant of the home at the time was able to escape without harm.
Cleveland said while the blaze is under investigation, it is believed the fire was caused by an electrical problem in the crawl space of an upstairs bedroom.
More than 20 onlookers, some on the roof of a nearby building, gathered to watch the blaze, as flames and black smoke shot through the roof. Traffic slowed on nearby Main Street, where motorists tried to get a glimpse of the fire.
Fire departments from Ravenna, Ravenna Township, Rootstown and Kent responded.
The Ravenna Police Department closed Riddle Avenue between Prospect and Chestnut streets for several hours Friday.
"I think the interior crews did a great job extinguishing the flames before they extended further. It could have been a total loss," Cleveland said.
Record-Courier Sports Editor Tom Nader contributed to this report