SILVERTON, OH. (WKRC) – Saturday’s fire in Silverton is just the latest fire where first responders had to deal with hoarding conditions inside.
Deer Park-Silverton Fire Chief Denny Meador says it was difficult to move through the basement because of the conditions.
"With the hoarding conditions there's debris on the basement as well so it just makes it very difficult to get in and search for both victims and for the seat of the fire,” said Chief Meador.
One man was found deceased in the basement.
Back on Dec. 10 in Carthage, a man and a dog were killed in a house fire. A woman was sent to the hospital with burn injuries.
Cincinnati Fire Department District Fire Chief Robert McWilliams had said it was difficult to get the second floor and attic because of all the items stuffed into the home.
"Very extreme hoarders. A lot of memorabilia in the building, it was full,” said McWilliams.
As for the winter increase in house fires, Chief Meador says while hoarding isn’t a new concept, the department is seeing more of it.
"We do hear it a lot. I think people are just more aware of it. We didn't use to really note that it was a big deal, but we do see it from time to time. Obviously, it's something that if we happen to be at someone's house for perhaps an EMS run or something you know we try to educate them on the dangers of it. But unfortunately, we can't go in everybody's home just to check things unless they ask us in. So a lot of times we don't know until we get to the scene,” said Chief Meador.
The cause of the fire in Silverton has yet to be determined.
