Wood County home a total loss after fire
A home off Harris Highway in Lubeck burns Sunday afternoon. The Lubeck, Blennerhassett, Washington Bottom, Mineral Wells and Pond Creek fire departments responded to the blaze. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Firefighters work to douse flames at a structure overlooking Harris Highway Sunday afternoon. The Lubeck, Blennerhassett, Washington Bottom, Mineral Wells and Pond Creek fire departments responded to the blaze. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A home off Harris Highway in Lubeck burns Sunday afternoon. The Lubeck, Blennerhassett, Washington Bottom, Mineral Wells and Pond Creek fire departments responded to the blaze. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Firefighters work to douse flames at a structure overlooking Harris Highway Sunday afternoon. The Lubeck, Blennerhassett, Washington Bottom, Mineral Wells and Pond Creek fire departments responded to the blaze. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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LUBECK - A house overlooking Harris Highway partially collapsed after a Sunday afternoon fire.
No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported at 2:25 p.m. Sunday at 2098 Harris Highway, Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Stewart said.
Lubeck responded to the scene along with the Blennerhassett, Washington Bottom, Mineral Wells and Pond Creek volunteer fire departments. It took several hours to get the fire under control in challenging conditions, Stewart said.
Propane cylinders were venting, "blowing flames about 20 feet into the house," he said. The split-level home was on a hill, limiting the space firefighters had to work and allowing only one truck at a time to bring in water, Stewart said.
Below-freezing temperatures were joined Sunday by winds that helped whip the flames back up.
"We had it about contained once, and then the wind picked up and it got to going again," Stewart said.
Three people were in the house at the time of the fire but were able to get out safely, he said. No injuries were reported.
Both WVU Medicine Camden Clark ambulance service and the American Red Cross responded to the scene as well.
Stewart said the structure was a total loss.
"Half the house collapsed into the basement," he said.
The Wood County Fire Investigation Team will head to the scene this morning in an effort to determine the cause. Stewart said all indications are that the fire was accidental.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.