CINCINNATI -- The Tri-State saw a slew of fires on Monday night into Tuesday morning while temperatures hit below-freezing marks; this meant an increased risk for instant ice and slick roads for firefighters and trucks.
A fire in Bond Hill quickly turned from a hot scene to an icy one for firefighters; one firefighter slipped on the ice and was injured. Officials say the house fire began in the attic and a cause has not yet been determined.
Another fire, this one early Tuesday morning in Westwood, began after a woman said she fell asleep while cooking and woke up to a kitchen fire. The woman is okay, firefighters say, but she is staying with neighbors for the time being.
A minivan caught fire earlier Monday evening on an elevated interstate ramp in downtown Cincinnati, leaving firefighters to fight not only the flames but also near-instant ice.
Water used by firefighters quickly turned into ice. One firefighter slipped and fell.
"Obviously you have those issues where you could cause more accidents. The firefighters could get hurt by slipping and falling -- that happens a lot," Potter said.
Watch raw video of the fire, with an exclusive view from Chopper 9:
Because of the potential for ice, fire trucks carry salt with them during the winter.
The fire was on the ramp from northbound Interstate 75/71 to Fort Washington Way/Second Street at about 5:30 p.m. The ramp was temporarily closed.
Cincinnati Fire District Chief Greg Potter said the freeway is one of the more hazardous spots for firefighters.
"Nowadays, a lot of people aren't paying attention to what's going on, or there's rubberneckers not paying attention to what's going on in front of them," he said.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday meant traffic was lighter than normal, but there was still a backup on the northbound Brent Spence Bridge.
The minivan was left a charred shell. Potter said the minivan's driver was gone by the time fire crews arrived.
A fire that began Monday afternoon in West Price Hill was ruled an arson hours later. No one was hurt in the fire, but several families were displaced. Residents said a similar fire began in the same building almost exactly one year ago.
