Firefighters respond to early‑morning apartment fire in downtown Uhrichsville
UHRICHSVILLE (WJER) (March 19, 2026) – Firefighters say no one was hurt after an early‑morning fire broke out in a mixed‑use building downtown Thursday.
Fire Chief Justin Edwards says crews were called just before 3 a.m. to the 400 block of North Main Street, where flames were reported in a structure containing a commercial business and two apartments. He says initial reports indicated seven people were unaccounted for, but all residents were safely evacuated with the help of firefighters and Uhrichsville police.
Edwards says working smoke detectors alerted occupants in time, and one resident used a fire extinguisher on the furnace fire before crews arrived—keeping the flames contained.
“No one required transport,” Edwards said, noting that clearing smoke from the large building took considerable time once the fire was out.
Firefighters determined the fire stemmed from a furnace malfunction. Thanks to the quick use of an extinguisher and functioning smoke detectors, Edwards says the fire did not spread beyond the unit.
Departments from Arrowhead, Dennison, New Philadelphia, and Warwick also assisted. Crews remained on scene until shortly after 5 a.m.