Nick Vlahos: Nick in the AM: Fire causes at least $100,000 in damage to massive Havana house

Nov. 15--A century-old Havana house sustained major damage from a fire Wednesday.

The house at 450 S. Plum St. was ablaze in sub-freezing temperatures when crews arrived about 3 p.m., according to John Kachanuk, chief of the Mason County city's fire department.

Flames were shooting from the kitchen and second floor of the three-story, 10,000-square-foot structure known as the Keys house.

According to Kachanuk, the blaze began in the kitchen, although as of Friday no cause had been determined.

"Initially we got in and got a good knockdown on it," said the chief, whose department received help from Easton, Havana Rural and Kilbourne colleagues. "But it had gotten into the walls and the roof, and we couldn't get to it."

The roof and the third floor were most affected. Kachanuk estimated total damage at between $100,000 and $150,000.

Nobody was injured. The two occupants of the house weren't there at the time of the fire, Kachanuk said.

The Victorian/Queen Anne-style house is one of the more prominent ones in the city, according to the chief.

"It sits on top of a hill, so it's visible from a lot of different directions when you come into town," Kachanuk said. "It's a grand old mansion, well-put together and big ... It is one of the grand homes in town."

The owners were to meet with their insurance representative Friday, according to Kachanuk.

"If it were me, I'd argue to rebuild," he said. "I'd take the third story off, but I think the rest of the house is very salvageable."

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