TOLEDO, Ohio – A Saturday morning apartment fire on Brooke Park Drive has left three people hospitalized and eight units destroyed. The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department (TFRD) responded to the blaze at approximately 3:30 a.m. on January 25, 2025.
According to TFRD, the fire is believed to have started at the rear of the building, on the second floor. Firefighters arrived to find three individuals trapped inside, with two of them being pulled to safety by first responders. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
In addition to human casualties, several animals were removed from the building, though no further details on their condition were provided.
Ray Sternberg, a resident of the building, recounted the harrowing moments leading up to his escape. He was awoken by his son, who alerted him to the fire. Sternberg said that when he entered the living room, he found the front door engulfed in flames. “He kicked the screen out of my bedroom and police were already here and they pulled me out,” Sternberg recalled. “I just lost everything and I’m grateful to be alive.”
The apartment complex housed eight units, all of which are now considered unlivable due to the extent of the damage. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist displaced residents, offering shelter and resources in the aftermath of the tragedy.
At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. TFRD officials have stated that they are working diligently to determine the exact origin of the blaze. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.