Fire claims life of Blanchester resident
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At around 5 a.m. Wednesday, Blanchester Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a fire at the Friendship Acres apartment complex at 905 E. Cherry St., Blanchester. A police officer was the first to arrive and found the building engulfed in heavy smoke. He was joined by arriving firefighters and the Clinton County Deputy Sheriff in attempting to evacuate the residents of the building. Those efforts were hampered by the fact that some residents are wheelchair bound.
While extinguishing the fire, firefighters found 69-year-old Esther Smith dead inside her apartment. The Clinton County Coroner was notified and Investigator Gary Garrison of his office responded to the scene. The body was removed to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for autopsy.
Approximately 50 residents were evacuated from the building. The Clinton County Emergency Management Agency responded to the scene. The American Red Cross and Mayor Chad Hollon were called to open the Blanchester Municipal Building emergency shelter. The Blanchester Local School District and City of Wilmington Public Transit were contacted and provided buses to assist in transporting the residents to the shelter. Residents' pets are being temporarily housed by the Blanchester Veterinary Hospital on E. Cherry St. Relatives of residents who wish to contact their loved ones can do so by coming to the Blanchester Municipal Building at 318 E. Main St., Blanchester. Dr. Steven Weber of Blanchester, whose office is next door to the complex, offered his assistance in treating displaced residents.
A number of local fire departments and life squads responded to the scene to assist at the request of Fire Chief Don Walker. The Ohio Fire Marshal's Office was summoned, and several investigators from their office responded to the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation jointly by the Blanchester Police Department, the Blanchester-Marion Township Fire District and the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office.