Cause for Amherst house fire believed to be bad wiring

Amherst fire fighters clean up following a house fire at 45730 North Ridge Road in Amherst Sunday afternoon. ANNA NORRIS/CHRONICLE

AMHERST Faulty front porch light electrical wiring is believed to have caused a fire that badly damaged a home at 45730 North Ridge Road, according to Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wilhelm.

No one was hurt in the fire called in at 12:36 p.m. Sunday, but five cats and three birds died. Homeowner Michael Tyson said he was home alone watching television about 12:35 p.m. when he saw a shadow by the front door.

I thought somebody was at the front door, he said. Then I saw the flames burning on the front porch.

Tyson said he called 911. By the end of the call, Tyson said his home, which he moved into in 2002, was filled with thick smoke. The 62-year-old retired Ford Motor Co. worker said he was forced to run out the back door.

I had to get out, Tyson said. Those flames were up to the top of my porch. I figured there was nothing I could do.

Wilhelm said Amherst firefighters, assisted by colleagues from Elyria Township, arrived at 12:42 p.m. The fire, which spread to the attic of the two-floor, wood-frame home, was contained about 1:15 p.m. and put out at 2:09 p.m.

Wilhelm said a sixth cat was resuscitated by firefighters and taken to a veterinarian. Tyson, who said he has homeowners insurance, said the American Red Cross Lake Erie chapter is assisting him and his wife with temporary housing.

Wilhelm estimated the fire caused about $125,000 in structural damage and $75,000 to belongings. The 1,600-square-foot home, which is valued at nearly $89,000, was built in 1900, according to the Lorain County Auditors website. Wilhelm said the homes balloon-frame construction, which makes flames shoot up into the top of homes during fires, made extinguishing the fire more difficult.

Contact Evan Goodenow at 329-7129 or egoodenow@chroniclet.com.

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Cause for Amherst house fire believed to be bad wiring