Basketball coach’s home lost to fire

One firefighter CONTINENTAL — suffered minor injuries while battling a Wednesday-morning house fire north of Continental. The home, owned by a Continental basketball legend, was a total loss.

At 3:59 a.m. Wednesday, the Putnam County Sheriff ’s Office received a 911 call about a house fire at 3734 Ohio 634, Continental. The caller said everyone was out of the home at the time.

The house was considered a total loss. The $121,260 property has been owned by Gregory C. and Sandra Spitnale since 1987, according to Putnam County Auditor’s Office records.

Spitnale is the all-time winningest girls basketball coach at Continental schools from 2000 to 2011 and also the career scoring leader for the Pirates’ boys basketball team from his time in the 1970s.

Continental Fire Department Chief Steve Elkins reported flames were showing when they arrived on scene. One firefighter was treated on the scene for minor smoke inhalation, but there were no other injuries.

The cause was undetermined as of Wednesday morning, and units were still on scene three and a half hours after first receiving the call. The incident closed state Route 634 for a part of Wednesday morning.

Assisting on scene were the Ayersville Fire Department, Miller City Fire Department, Oakwood Fire Department, Paulding Putnam Electric Co-Op, Putnam County chapter of the American Red Cross, Putnam County Sheriff ’s Office and Putnam County EMS.