MENTOR, Ohio — A couple was taken to the hospital early Wednesday morning following a house fire in the 9100 block of Kephart Drive in Mentor.
Mentor Fire Chief Robert Searles says the first 911 call came in at 5:36 a.m. amid reports of multiple explosions in association with the fire.
When officials arrived at the scene, the situation was described as “a significant house fire with possible entrapment.”
Fire crews began an interior search and found the male homeowner unconscious on the first floor. He was carried out of the front door and taken to the hospital. His condition was not reported.
His wife was found alert in the yard across the street after she had self-exited the home and being attended to by neighbors. She was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Searles says she is in stable condition.
While the cause of the fire is under investigation, Searles said it is believed to be accidental in nature and originated in the attached garage.
The names of the couple have not been released.
Fire crews remained on the scene as of 10:30 a.m.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our patient,” Searles said in a press release. “This was a significant house fire with reported explosions and our dispatch center, police department and firefighters did an incredible job managing the incident.”
He also noted support from Willoughby Fire, Leroy Fire, Painesville Township Fire, Painesville City Fire, Concord Township Fire, Mentor-on-the-Lake Fire and Fairport Fire.
