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Akron Home Nearly Total Loss After Fire

Posted on: Monday, 2 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Julie Wallace, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Jan. 2--An Akron man and woman lost nearly everything Sunday when a fire engulfed their Nome Avenue home.

Witnesses said James Steadman escaped the burning home through a window. Juanita Calhoun, who also lives in the home, darted out the back door to flee the flames.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross provided the pair with a place to stay and money for meals. Attempts to contact them on Sunday were unsuccessful.

The fire, which started in the living room, was reported about 9:30 a.m., according to the Akron Fire Department. A cause had not been determined as of late Sunday.

By late afternoon on Sunday, the acrid smell of smoke still hung over the neighborhood.

Steadman's blue-sided ranch home, which fire officials characterize as a near total loss, was cordoned off by yellow tape, the front yard filled with belongings mostly burned beyond recognition.

Fire officials say the blaze caused $45,000 damage to the home itself, which is valued about $90,000. Another $24,000 in damage was reported to the contents.

The home had no working smoke detectors.

Steadman, who has lived in the neighborhood for several years, has homeowner's insurance, fire officials said.

Julie Wallace can be reached at 330-996-3542 or jwallace@thebeaconjournal.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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