Two families lose homes in trailer fires over weekend
Trailer fires struck two area families last weekend. One fire happened on Fox Hollow Trail in the Berkeley Springs-Pleasant View area. The other fire occurred in Tri-Lake Park off Fish Hatchery Road south of Berkeley Springs.
Tri-Lake Park fire
The call for the Tri-Lake Park fire came in around 5:30 p.m. last Friday evening, said Chief Mark Miller of the South Morgan Volunteer Fire Company. When fire units arrived at the scene, the trailer was 50% involved, said Miller.
The homeowner told firefighters that the electric panel box overheated and caught clothing and a closet on fire, said Michael. The home was a total loss, he said. No damage estimate was available.
The family that lost their home was a couple with four children. They were home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries to the family or to firefighters, said Miller.
Volunteer fire units from South Morgan, Berkeley Springs, Great Cacapon, Reynolds Store and Gainesboro responded to the fire along with the Reynolds Store Rescue Squad. Units were on the scene for four hours, said Miller. The Morgan County Chapter of the American Red Cross was contacted for the family, he said.
Fox Hollow Trail fire
The fire call came in for Fox Hollow Trail at 3:30 a.m. last Saturday morning, said Assistant Chief James Steiner of the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Department. When they arrived on the scene, the living room and kitchen area, which was around half of the trailer, was completely involved, said Steiner.
The cause of the blaze was a flue fire caused by a wood stove, he said. The family of four was home at the time of
the blaze. There were no injuries to the family or to firefighters.
Steiner wasn't sure if the house was being considered a total loss. He estimated the damages at around $50,000. Emergency units were on the scene for one hour and 55 minutes, said Steiner.
Volunteer fire and rescue units from Berkeley Springs, Hedgesville, Great Cacapon, South Morgan and Hancock responded to the fire along with the Morgan County Rescue Service and the West Virginia State Police.
A representative of the Morgan County Chapter of the American Red Cross came to the scene to offer assistance with finding the family a temporary place to stay, said Steiner.
