Fire destroys Republic bakery

REPUBLIC — A popular local bakery is considered a total loss after a fire Sunday. Josh Kirian, assistant fire chief of the Scipio-Republic Fire Department, said firefighters responded to Handshoe Cakes and Cookies, 6085 E. SR 18, Republic, for a reported structure fire. He said the fire started in an outside structure on the property and spread to the bakery and house. The business and home are "a total loss," Kirian said. No one was injured in the blaze, and pets safely made it out of the home, he said. The Scipio-Republic, Bloom Township and Clinton Township fire departments and Seneca County EMS responded to the scene. The cause of the fire remained under investigation Sunday afternoon. In a post to the bakery's Facebook page, owner Lisa Handshoe said everyone was safe and the dogs had been gotten out. She asked that anyone with a pending order place it with another bakery. Handshoe Cakes and Cookies was founded in 1999 by Handshoe, of Republic.