Apartment Fire in Strongsville - WJW

Fire crews are on the scene of a fire at the Chestnut Lake Apartments at 17785 Whitney Rd.

[matt g]

the cloud of smoke could be seen all the way across strongsville at the southpark mall.

[KMT]

Stupid kid that started the fire! The parents should have kept a better on their son. Becuase of that stupidity, how many people are going to be put out of their homes and lost cherished belongings. Last I heard it was at least 20-36 apts that burned not to mention the water damage from putting it out. Ridiculous

[Ryan H]

About 9:20pm I came home to Cherry Tree Apartments, right beside Chestnut Lake. I looked to the left and thought that it was a heavy fog, because the smoke engulfed the area around the dark brick building. Then at closer look, I saw that it was smoke coming out of the 5th or 4th floor.

[Ms JV]

KMT wrote:

Stupid kid that started the fire! The parents should have kept a better on their son. Becuase of that stupidity, how many people are going to be put out of their homes and lost cherished belongings. Last I heard it was at least 20-36 apts that burned not to mention the water damage from putting it out. Ridiculous

There were some Pets that perished as well! Its horrible because of this. I'm at a loss for words for such a negligent offense.

[Megan Douglass]

I was getting pizza for dinner and driving up Whitney from 130th when I saw the fire truck. I followed behind it trying to get home when I saw that it had pulled into Chestnut Lake's driveway, my heart dropped as my boyfriend cat and bunny were at home in building 5!!! It was an honest relief when I saw it was not my building but at the same time, my heart dopped for the families who live/lived in building 3. I saw the flames coming up and out on BOTH sides of the building and the thick black smoke lingering in the sky. It was a dreadful sight for anyone to see. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you who live in building 3.

[EFS]

I live in the 5th floor and my cats were up there, I tried so hard to get in, they said is too danger on the 5th and 6 th floors, thank god!! A (good heart) cop saw us calling our cats and let us in to get our cats, they were scared but they're fine now, but the hotel didn't allow pet,so I have to go another side of cleveland stay with my mom for a night. what a nightmare!!
Also I saw the 6th floor, OMG! looks like hell, just the smoke, water and darkness.
I just want to go home!!

[Robin]

I am a resident at Chestnut Lakes..Bldg 4! This is horrilbe that people lost their precious pets and belongings not to mention their home! I'll keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers..

[Building two resident]

i live in building 2 a ways from the fire, but when I went out there the 6th floor was on fire with flames around 5 feet high!!! Supposedly this kid was cleaning with a product and it caught fire...

[building 3 resident]

I came home from the gym after my boyfriend called and told me what was going on. From the outside, it looked like the fire was contained to maybe two apartments, but it is hard to tell. We talked with another resident who had just spoke with someone from management and they said the child is mentally disabled and was playing with a lighter for some reason and something caught and that was it... interested to hear the whole story and find out more. Hoping there isn't too much smoke/water damage. :(

[Annon]

This is a sad and horrible event. Just remember to be kind to the people effected and the staff. They are stressed and overwhelmed!

[Mark G Karr]

It is a shame that Fire Sprinkler systems are not required to be installed in existing apartment buildings, as they are in new construction. These horrible tragedies would be a thing of the past. How many people have to be made homeless or even worse, loose their lives before the building codes are changed?

[Samanth]

When I got there, there was talk of a black cat huddling on the balcony. Does anyone know what happened to the cat? Were there other pets that died?

[ex resident]

i used to live in building 3 just moved out saturday i lived on 4th floor thank goodness i left. ever since i lived there someones always pulling that fire alarm and i have had such bad experiences from living there but its just my luck...hope everyone who lives there is ok..if that kid was cleaning with cleaning supplies its only common sense most are flammable!! anyway my heart goes out to those families effected and animals*-++++++++ haha my 7month old did that thats what she had to say about this!

[ANIMAL LOVER THANKING GOD]

I LIVE IN BUILDING 3 ON THE 5TH FLOOR THANK GOD NOT IN THE WING WITH THE FIRE. HOWEVER I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO HOME MON NIGHT I WAS AT WORK WHEN THE FIRE STARTED MY MOTHER WHO ALSO LIVES IN THE BUILDING (2ND FLOOR) CALLED ME IN A PANIC! I LEFT WORK RACING HOME THINKING OF NOTHING BUT MY ANIMALS....THINGS CAN B REPLACED. ANYONE WITH PETS KNOW THEY ARE LIKE YOUR KIDS. THANK GOD KIND POLICE OFFICERS (2 IN PARTICULAR) LET ME RESCUE MY 2 CATS AND 2 BIRDS. THEY ARE SAFE BUT SCARED AT MY MOMS. I THANK THE OFFICER FOR HIS HELP AS I WATCH THE ANIMAL WARDEN PULL 2 FARRETS OFF MY FLOOR. MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL MY NEIGHBORS. I AM PRAYING FOR YOUR PETS SAFETY AND SAFE RETURN.

[Judy]

They said on the news that the kid was looking for something under his bed-had no flashligt so he used a lighter. I normally do not think that its fair for parents to be held responsible for negligent and criminal acts that their kids do because even the best parents are not with their kids 24 hours a day and kids just do things. Also if parents are held responsible for kids actions then the kids don't learn a lesson. However in this case the parents need to be held responsible for this because it happened in their home which means that the kid had access to a lighter because of their negligence. My heart goes out to all of the victims who were displaced by this and who lost their possessions and precious pets.

[ANIMAL LOVER THANKING GOD]

Samanth wrote:

When I got there, there was talk of a black cat huddling on the balcony. Does anyone know what happened to the cat? Were there other pets that died?

i do not know bout that particular cat however sadely i know there are some pets that did not make it. i live in the building and i know animal control came and took alot of pets

[John]

I live right next to their apartment. I'm glad I wasn't there but now I have nothing but my car and the clothes I am wearing no :-(. Living at my dad's now.
Kid was nice but there were a lots of lighters there...for obvious reason.

[MegVT]

I'm sorry you guys are homeless. Thank God! everyone is okay!
love,
M

[MegVT]

Was this kid a pyro? If he is he's So lucky he didn't kill anyone!

[Laura Kicen-Mcdaniels]

We are so blessed no one was hurt!