BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP -- Fire investigators spent Thursday examining the rubble but have not yet determined the cause of a fire Wednesday night that destroyed a home on East Miami River Road.
Firefighters had to fight the blaze at the two-story home using water tankers, including those sent by seven neighboring fire departments. There were no fire hydrants nearby, and firefighters battled the fire for about three hours.
The house, at the western edge of the township near the Great Miami River, lies within the 10 percent of the township that does not have waterlines or hydrants. The township is about 44 square miles.
"Once you hit on the west side, the houses are farther apart, and a lot is not developed yet," said Colerain Fire Capt. Mike Reenan.
A Cincinnati Water Works map of the area shows that water mains reach out into parts of the western side of the township but stop short of the Great Miami River.
"We've tried for 25 years to get water out here," homeowner Ken Sinclair said Wednesday. "This would have been nothing, but it's something you have to live with."
His granddaughter Sarah Mockbee, 15, discovered the blaze. After walking from her aunt's house, 30 yards from the Sinclair house, Sarah said, she grabbed the doorknob to go into the house. It was hot, but she opened it anyway.
She was met with thick smoke and ran to call 911.
Colerain Division Chief Darrell Brown said, "The hydrants would have helped in this case, but we always come prepared."
Capt. Reenan said the department drills with other departments using tankers.
Two firefighters received minor injuries battling the fire. Robert Sanchez contributed to this report.
