NIMISHILLEN TWP. ‒ Someone deliberately set the fire that damaged a township home early this week, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
The Division of State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau is offering a $5,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who caused the fire at 4454 Eastland Ave. NE early Sunday morning.
The Nimishillen Township Fire Department responded to the blaze at 1:44 a.m.
A spokesman for the state fire marshal, Andy Ellinger, in an email wrote that his office did not receive any reports of anyone being injured. No one was living in the house at the time of the fire. The home was declared a total loss. And several fire departments responded to battle the blaze.
Ellinger wrote that he had no information to release on how state fire investigators determined arson was the cause of the fire or specifics on what sparked the fire.
Messages seeking more details were left for Nimishillen Township Fire Chief Rich Peterson.
Anyone who can help fire investigators is asked to call 800-589-2728.
The Stark County Auditor’s Office has appraised the property’s value at $54,900. The damaged 1,368-square-foot home is a three-bedroom bungalow built in 1926, according to the county’s property records.
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Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @rwangREP.