by Kate Shunney
Morgan County emergency responders were pulled in multiple directions last week as they worked to extinguish four house fires amidst frigid temperatures and treacherous roadways that posed a transportation challenge. At least three individuals were displaced by the structure fires.
On Wednesday, January 15, fire units were dispatched shortly after 5 p.m. to the 4000 block of Low Line Road off Magnolia Road in western Morgan County for a residential structure fire. Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Company was the primary responding agency, and Great Cacapon Volunteer Fire Company Safety Officer Daniel McJilton was the commanding officer on the scene, according to Morgan County 911 officials.
Responders said a female resident of the home made it safely out of the home, which was severely damaged by the fire believed to be chimney-related. Responding to the fire were units from Paw Paw, Berkeley Springs, Great Cacapon, South Morgan, Morgan County EMS, Hancock, Reynold’s Store, Gainesboro, Gore, Slanesville, Levels, Capon Bridge, Oldtown and Allegany County. Units cleared the scene at 7:50 p.m. Some follow-up monitoring of the structure was required to take care of rekindles.
On Thursday, January 16, Morgan County 911 received an outside smoke investigation call at 11:15 a.m. on Ore Trail in the Spruce Pine Hollow area of eastern Morgan County. Upon locating the source of the smoke, fire officials determined that the source of the smoke was a structure fully engulfed that had already collapsed. There were no injuries and no occupants at the home. Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company was the lead fire agency, with Assistant Chief Michael McCarty in command. Berkeley Springs, Hedgesville and Bedington fire agencies responded. The fire scene was cleared shortly after 2 p.m. There was no information about the cause of the fire at press time.
Simultaneous to that call, Morgan County 911 alerted agencies to an active structure fire in the 400 block of Wilkes Street north of the Town Hall. Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company was the lead fire agency, with Captain Robert Frey in command.
photos by Kate Shunney
There were no injuries during the incident and the homeowner was outside the structure when fire units arrived. Law enforcement officers had to remove the man in order for firefighters to establish fire response operations. It appeared that the fire was concentrated around a front porch chimney. Responding to that fire were Great Cacapon, Morgan County EMS, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, West Virginia State Police, Hancock, Clear Spring, Washington County Rehab Unit, Bedington, Reynold’s Store, Gainesboro, Needmore, Orleans and Breezewood. Firefighters cleared the scene at 2:17 p.m.
On Sunday, January 19 during a region-wide snowstorm, firefighters were alerted to a residential structure fire in the 100 block of Equestrian Lane off Michael’s Chapel Road in eastern Morgan County. The call came in at 8:30 p.m.
Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company was the lead fire agency, with Captain Robert Frey in command. There were no injuries to residents or firefighters in the incident but two dogs perished in the fire. A male resident was assisted by the American Red Cross.
He told firefighters that the blaze had begun as a chimney fire.
Captain Frey said the cabin fire was fully involved by the time fire equipment was able to reach the location, and the structure was on the ground. He said the West Virginia Division of Highways plows were in front of fire apparatus clearing the roadway in order to reach the scene.
Responding to that fire were Great Cacapon, South Morgan, Morgan County EMS, Hancock, Reynold’s Store, Orleans, Hedgesville, Back Creek Baker Heights, South Berkeley and the 167th Air National Guard. Firefighters cleared the scene at 11 p.m.
Captain Frey of the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company noted that all four structure fires were chimney-related and he urged local residents to have their chimneys and stove-pipes inspected and cleaned each heating season for safety.
