VERMILION — A fire at a short-term rental property on Cooper Foster Park Road Monday morning caused significant exterior damage, but no injuries were reported, according to the Vermilion Fire Department.
Fire crews were dispatched at 11:53 a.m. March 30 to 1610 Cooper Foster Park Road for a possible structure fire. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire on the front of a detached 768-square-foot building on the property.
Vermilion firefighters arrived at 12:06 p.m. and began putting out the fire. Amherst provided water support as part of the automatic mutual aid response. Additional assistance came from South Amherst, Florence Township and Vermilion Township fire departments.
The property includes a smaller detached building and a larger two-story structure. Investigators later confirmed both were owned by an Independence company and used as Airbnb rentals. Neither building was occupied at the time of the fire.
Officials said the fire started on the outside of the smaller structure. The flames caused significant damage to the exterior, while the inside sustained smoke and water damage.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined and is still under investigation.
A total of eight Vermilion firefighters responded with three vehicles, along with mutual aid crews from surrounding departments.