Residents say alarm never sounded

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) - Crews were called to the scene of a retirement community early Monday morning on reports of flames inside one of the units.

The blaze started around 3:00 a.m. at the Mercy Siena Retirement Community in the 6200 block of North Main Street, forcing 30-40 people from their homes.

Crews tell 2 NEWS this was an electrical fire, and the damage was being estimated at around $500,000.

Tanya Popovich's father has lived at Mercy Siena for two years. She was terrified when she pulled up to see flashing lights.

"I wondered if something had happened to him, because the fire truck ladder is located over his apartment," said Popovich.

Fire engines surround the retirement community as the heat quickly got turned up on a frigid night.   

"The firemen came charging in, men of rescue, and got everybody out," says resident Shirley Thompson.

Thankfully those firefighters were the only alarm needed to get everyone to safety because residents say the fire alarm stayed silent while smoke spread through the attic.

"The alarm didn't go off but the firemen were very, very good," Thompson says.

The investigation into the alarm is still on-going, but crews say the sprinkler system did work, helping to douse the flames.

"Sprinkler did its job," says Harrison Township Battalion Chief Sean McNeil. "It held the fire in check. We put out the smoldering part of the fire."

Cleanup started soon afterward, but the fire still left some without a place to stay.

Nine are now bunking at a Red Cross shelter at the Bethesda Temple Church.

"It's nice to know we can take care of their needs since they're going through an unexpected circumstance, especially on a holiday," says Shawna Collins with the Red Cross.

Residents like Thompson are doing their best to take it all in stride.

"The man asked me, 'What do you want to sleep on?'" Thompson says. "I said one of the feather beds."

She won't be on feather bed, but Thompson is thankful she'll have some place to sleep tonight and possibly future nights.   

"I'll get buy as long as I can make it," Thompson says.

Apartment officials tell 2 NEWS it may be a few days before they know when residents will be able to return to their homes.