By Daniel Pye<br><a href="mailto:pyed@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Dan</a>
A house fire at 149 Cleveland Drive Monday had fire companies and police wondering whether two people were inside, but the residents turned out to be elsewhere.
Early in the call first responders were concerned that the home’s two occupants, homeowner Edith Kriz and her son, were still inside. Two cars could be seen in the driveway when firefighters arrived. But after talking with neighbors and the family firefighters discovered Kriz was in a nursing home for physical rehabilitation and her son wasn’t in town, said Brighton Volunteer Fire Company Chief Scott Boivin.
“There was nobody in the building at the time of our arrival,” Boivin said.
While Boivin said police are still investigating the cause of the fire and estimating the extent of the damage, he confirmed that the blaze started in the front porch area. When firefighters arrived, the front of the home was fully consumed in flames, he said.
Smoke poured from the upper windows and the entire front of the house was charred black, but Boivin said a water supply was established early and the fire was contained without injuries. More than 40 firefighters from Brighton, Ellwood, Sheridan Park and Kenilworth volunteer fire departments responded.
Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.
