Teens charged with setting East Toledo fire; firefighters injured

7/10/2018
BY ALLISON DUNN
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Two teenage boys were arrested early Tuesday after allegedly setting a fire at the Aurora Academy. 

Fankhauser
Fankhauser

Ethan Fankhauser, 18, of Oregon and Austin Bradshaw, 17, of Toledo are each charged in connection to the East Toledo blaze. 

They are accused of breaking into the building at 541 Utah St. and intentionally setting it on fire, according to an affidavit filed in Toledo Municipal Court. The building is owned by the Diocese of Toledo. 

Firefighters responded to the fire at about 1 a.m. Tuesday. A witness reported seeing two people fleeing from the scene, police said.

Two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze and were treated at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center. One firefighter fell about four feet from a stage, while another had a medical issue. 

Both are expected to be OK, Battalion Chief Brent Wettle said 

Initial estimates indicate the building suffered about $100,000 worth of damage, and $50,000 in contents was lost, Battalion Chief Wettle said. 

The Washington Township Fire Department’s hovercraft was used to help ventilate the building.

It’s a rare tactic, but it’s been done before, Battalion Chief Wettle said. 

“They definitely helped us out,” he said. 

A fire investigator was also called to the scene and the suspects were identified, court documents show. A motive was unknown Tuesday. 

Mr. Fankhauser appeared Tuesday in Toledo Municipal Court, where bond was set at $200,000 at no percent. He remains in the Lucas County jail. 

The youth appeared in Lucas County Juvenile Court and will remain in the juvenile detention center. 

Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6506, or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.