Toys for Tots warehouse burns in Sherrodsville, destroying Christmas gifts
SHERRODSVILLE — Fire destroyed the warehouse of Tuscarawas County Toys for Tots on Monday afternoon.
Multiple fire departments were called to the scene at 6034 Dana Road SW around 4 p.m.
More: Toys for Tots gives 20,000 items to nearly 3,000 children and teens in Tuscarawas County
The location was also the site of Lincolns and Things, the business of Robert Stratton, the Marine veteran who runs the local program, which is a project of the Marine Corps Reserve.
His daughter Kathy Jordan told The Times-Reporter that the fire destroyed the building and contents, including some 8,000 toys collected and purchased for distribution to needy children. Additionally, Stratton lost eight cars and four motorcycles in the fire.
"We lost everything including Bob Stratton’s life’s passion and belongings," Jordan said. "He's 87 and he's a tough Marine. He's worried about getting Toys for Tots up and running."
The national organization of Toys for Tots made its delivery Tuesday, Jordan said. The truck stopped at Calvary United Methodist Church, 328 S. Church St., where volunteers moved the gifts to storage space provided by the congregation.
Jordan said the shipment had been delayed.
"Thank God it didn't come when it was supposed to," she said.
Simpson Heating and Cooling of New Philadelphia is also pitching in. Company representatives will be at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday to collect new toys. They will be at the end of Storybook Lane. The company will match donations.
Last year, Toys for Tots distributed nearly 20,000 gifts to 3,000 children and teens in Tuscarawas County.
Toys for Tots accepts checks all year. They may be sent to P.O. Box 113, Sherrodsville, Ohio 44675.
"We would appreciate anything that anyone could do," Jordan said. "We're going to make sure that everybody in Tuscarawas County, all the kids, have the Christmas they deserve. And we really appreciate everyone and their help."
Jordan said the building was covered by insurance and the contents were at least partially insured. The insurance adjuster was expected to visit Tuesday.
Sherrodsville firefighter John Miley was the first to arrive at the fire.
“I live just around the corner, and my granddaughter called me to say that the neighbor’s garage is on fire," he said. "So I got in my truck to head to the fire station, and stopped here to size things up and the smoke was coming around the chimney – heavily.
"By the time I got to the station and got the fire truck and back here within a few minutes, it was fully involved. Cars were burning. Wind was a big factor. The winds were really strong.
“I then decided that [building] was a total loss,” Miley said.
He said firefighters prioritized saving the nearby house until Dellroy firefighters arrived.
The house was not damaged, according to Sherrodsville Fire Chief Bill Booth, Jr.
Miley said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined. But he said a crew was putting tar on the roof.
"They were not heating any tar on the roof," he said. "They were heating it down here,” gesturing at the ground near where the burned structure is closest to the home. He went on to say that when the worker “… got close to the chimney, he felt the roof giving way a little bit and it broke loose from the chimney and then smoke and fire shot up from around it – around the outside of the chimney.”
Firefighters from Dellroy, Leesville, Bowerston, Scio, Perrysville, New Philadelphia and Fairfield Township assisted those from Sherrodsville.
Booth said firefighters left the scene around 8 p.m. Monday after having been called shortly before 4 p.m.
The Times-Reporter photojournalist Andrew Dolph contributed to this story.
How to help
Simpson Heating and Cooling of New Philadelphia will collect new toys to replace those lost in the Toys for Tots warehouse fire.
Company representatives will be at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. They will be at the end of Storybook Lane. The company will match donations. The park is at 161 Tuscora Ave. NW. Donations will also be accepted at Simpsons Heating and Cooling at 817 W. High in New Philadelphia. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30-5.
Toys for Tots accepts checks all year. They may be sent to P.O. Box 113, Sherrodsville, Ohio 44675.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Fire destroys Toys for Tots warehouse in Sherrodsville
