A fire of undetermined origin early today destroyed a Maumee house once occupied by the late First Lady Betty Ford.

Maumee Fire Chief Brandon Loboschefski said city police noticed the fire at 622 River Rd. and called in the alarm about 3 a.m. He said the fire engulfed the roof and floors and the house was beyond saving. It will be torn down by the owners, he said.

Chief Loboschefski said it was unoccupied and was undergoing some renovations. He said investigators believe the blaze began in the basement but the origin as well as the cause is still under investigation.

Neighbor Bert Trochelman, who lives two doors away, said firefighters awakened him shortly after 3 a.m. and told him he might have to evacuate his house but it did not become necessary. He said he saw workers cutting trees and tree limbs on the property on Friday. Mr. Trochelman said that as far as he knew the house had been vacant for about 30 years, despite a succession of owners.

RELATED: 2011 Blade story on the home and Mrs. Ford’s time there

Mrs. Ford and her first husband, William C. Warren, lived in the house for 10 months in 1942 and 1943. She was a "demonstrator" at Lasalle's Department Store, a job that involved modeling, working in the fashion office, and selling merchandise.

After their divorce,the former Elizabeth Bloom Warren in 1948 married Gerald Ford, who became a congressman, vice president, and then president. Mrs. Ford died in 2011.

According to the Lucas County Auditor, the property is owned by Marcia Fifer, of 945 Argyll Dr. Records show Ms. Fifer acquired it for $1,000 in a quit-claim deed one year ago from 1st Choice Builders LLC of the same Argyle address. 1st Choice bought the house in 2011 for $50,000. it was built in 1928.

A woman who was identified at the scene as the owner declined comment, but said the house was an investment property.

First Published March 7, 2015, 3:25 p.m.