No one injured in Market Street fire

Downtown building houses pawn shop, apartments

SANDUSKY

No one was injured early Saturday when a fire damaged a pawn shop that shares a building with several apartments on East Market Street.

Scott Cisco, owner and operator of Needful Things Unlimited Inc., had been asleep in an upstairs apartment when he smelled smoke at about 4:30 a.m.

Sandusky firefighters extinguished the fire within 15 minutes. Firefighters left the scene at about 6 a.m., said Captain Tim Riesterer.

The pawn shop was left with heavy damage on the first floor from fire, heat and smoke. The fire caused $35,000 worth of structural damage and $5,000 worth of damage to the contents of the store.

Nine apartments are in the building, with occupants on the second and third floors. Tenants were allowed to return to their apartments after the fire was extinguished.

The fire started near the back of the pawn shop. The fire was still under investigation, Riesterer said Saturday afternoon. Although nothing was determined, cigarettes and a space heater were found near the spot where the fire was thought to have started, he said. The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature, he said.

Margaretta Township Fire Department also responded with one truck for assistance. Perkins Township Fire Department also sent a truck to assist, but that truck was cancelled en route. A total of 13 firefighters responded.