Elyria residents likely won’t be home for holidays after basement fire causes $40K in damage, chief says

ELYRIA, Ohio -- Three Elyria residents displaced by a house fire will likely be spending Christmas away from home.

The fire at the Rosewood Avenue home caused some $40,000 worth of damage and left the home uninhabitable, Elyria Fire Chief Joseph Pronesti said.

“I doubt very much they’re going to be back in by Christmas,” Pronesti said.

The fire broke out in the home’s basement about 12:45 p.m. Monday, Pronesti said.

Firefighters fought the blaze for about two hours and contained the flames to the basement. Smoke and heat damaged the upper floors, Pronesti said.

Because of the damage, fire officials had to turn off utilities to the home.

In the meantime, the Red Cross is assisting the residents with finding housing, Pronesti said.

Firefighters are still investigating what started the