UPDATE: 12/29/25 9:28 p.m.
A residential structure fire early this morning destroyed a home in the 11000 block of State Route 4 in Champaign County, though no injuries were reported.
The Champaign County 911 Center received a call at approximately 8:23 a.m. reporting smoke coming from a home’s furnace. Fire officials believe the blaze originated in the cellar. Due to the home’s balloon-frame construction, the fire quickly spread through the walls and into the attic.
Firefighters faced difficult conditions as high winds and frigid temperatures hampered suppression efforts. Despite the challenges, crews worked for several hours to contain the fire. From the time of the initial call until the last apparatus cleared the scene, the response lasted approximately seven hours, followed by an additional three-and-a-half hours spent returning equipment to service at the station.
The home was declared a total loss, but all occupants escaped safely, and no firefighters were injured.
The Mechanicsburg Fire Department was first on scene and received mutual aid from multiple departments, including Moorefield Township, Pleasant Township, Union Township, Central Township, the Northeastern Champaign County Fire District, Pleasant Valley, Urbana Fire, and the Marysville Fire Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, Mechanicsburg Police Department, the Champaign County 911 Center, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Fire officials also expressed appreciation to Box 13, the Mechanicsburg Fire Association, Officer Julia Royster of the Mechanicsburg Police Department, Paige Class, and Pizza Alley for providing food, water, and supplies to crews working on scene throughout the day.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Mechanicsburg Fire Department. Community members are encouraged to keep the affected family in their thoughts and prayers.
