The Painesville City Fire Department says that a Jan. 15 fire at 205 Mentor Ave. displaced eight people, and initial estimates are that the fire caused more than $500,000 in damage. Related Articles Local News | Mentor Public Library hosting screening of ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Local News | Mentor Public Library hosts talk on sankalpa Local News | Mentor Theatre Revue runs this weekend | Young Thespians Local News | Paid parking via QR code implemented at Downtown Willoughby parking lot Local News | Perry Historical Society offers North Perry Village chance for centennial research The department received a call of a fire at approximately 11 a.m. and responders arrived two minutes later, a Jan. 16 department news release said. They saw an active fire going up the side of the house to an attic and realized that the whole attic was affected. The house is divided into nine apartments, and the release said that all occupants and several dogs made it out. Firefighters rescued four cats, and two more cats remained unaccounted for as of Jan. 16. The release said that no civilians or firefighters were injured. The announcement that eight residents were displaced was lower than the department’s initial estimates from the day of the fire. Painesville City firefighters continued to watch the site overnight, the department said. The Red Cross of Northern Ohio met with displaced residents. The department said that the home was built in 1822 and suffered “severe fire, smoke and water damage” and is now uninhabitable. The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office and the East End Lake County Fire Investigation Unit are investigating the cause, which will be announced at a later time. The three-alarm fire brought 16 additional departments to help Painesville City. Mutual aid came from departments in Painesville Township, Fairport Harbor, Concord Township, Grand River, Perry, Madison, Leroy Township, Mentor, Kirtland, Chardon, Eastlake, Hambden, Willowick, Willoughby Hills, Willoughby and Wickliffe. The release added that additional support came from the Painesville Police Department, Painesville Electric, Painesville Public Works, Painesville Water Distribution, Painesville City’s drone operator and Enbridge Gas.