COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Frigid winds drove a fire at the Woodland Village Apartments Wednesday morning.
Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at the complex at about 10:23 a.m. and found heavy smoke and fire coming from one of the apartments in a four-unit building, according to a news release from the Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS.
The residents were safely outside when firefighters arrived.
Firefighters contained the fire to the apartment where it started, but winds of 15-20 mph drove the flames and the bitterly cold temperatures required additional units to be called to the scene so the crews of firefighters could rotate out.
Two nearby fire hydrants were frozen. Battalion Chief Steve Conn said first responders take extra precautions to keep their life-saving equiopment operational.
"We have to make sure our hoses don't freeze, our nozzle pumps don't freeze," he said. "We circulate water through them; moving water won't freeze that easily, and all of our trucks have heating systems on them to heat that water up so it doesn't freeze."
Officials estimated the damage at $35,000. The cause is under investigation. The building is being evaluated to determine if the residents of other apartments can return home.
