No One Injured in McKinley Avenue House Fires

Firefighters are wrapping up at two house fires in the 500 block of McKinley Avenue.

Chief John Bacon said the fire started at 516 McKinley Ave. and caught the house next door, 520 McKinley Ave., on fire as well.

"I've been chief for 12 years and we've never had two houses involved," Bacon said.

Nearby, residents of 520 McKinley Ave., T.J. and Heather Murphy, watched as firefighters trekked in and out of their home.

They weren't sure how badly their home was damaged, but they said it's not livable.

"At the end of the day, no one's dead," T.J. Murphy said. "And this is what insurance is for."

Investigators from the also were on hand. That's standard for any fire that happens throughout the day, Bacon said.

North Canton firefighters received mutual aid assistance from Greentown and Plain Township today. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 40 minutes.

Bacon said they're still unsure of the cause and origin of the fire. The back porch of the first house where the fire started is severely damaged.

, a close neighbor, also watched as crews overhauled the houses. He had gotten word of the fire while working in Alliance that morning.

"I dashed out of my office in a panic because I got a couple of phone calls," Cooper said. "We've got dogs in the house. And the neighbors — I wanted to make sure they were OK."

"Because (the sky is) so clear, I could see the smoke coming from Alliance. It was very clear it was coming from here."