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| January 17, 2008 |
| Working house fire: Back Creek Valley |
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A house in Back Creek Valley was destroyed by a fire Thursday morning, leaving a family of four homeless.
The fire started shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday at a ranch-style house at 101 Investigate Lane off of Back Creek Valley Road. The Back Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Department received the call at 11:06 a.m. Thursday and arrived at the scene seven minutes later, according to Back Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Department Captain Jay Walling. He said snow-covered road conditions did not hamper the fire company’s response time. The fire remained under investigation, but firefighters believe a starter log for a wood stove might have started the blaze. “The (home)owner’s son was at home and apparently was attempting to use a starter log to light the wood stove. Obviously something went wrong. It must have went up too fast, or he dropped it or something. It’s yet to be determined,” Walling said. Walling said starter logs, often purchased at hardware stores, are typically impregnated with combustible liquid, such as lighter fluid. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found fire coming from the side of the single-story home. “We initiated an interior attack. Basically the house, it was pretty well off. When we arrived at the scene, we experienced a lot of fire and a lot of heat,” Walling said. “We did what we could.” The home was deemed a complete loss and sustained an estimated $240,000 in damages. No one was injured in the blaze. Walling said the weather did mean a little longer arrival time for surrounding fire departments that assisted in fighting the blaze. The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Department, Hedgesville Volunteer Fire Department and the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services’ Engine No. 90 assisted in combating the blaze. The Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department also provided an air tanker used for refilling firefighters air packs. In all, about 30 firefighters were at the scene. The fire was brought under control at 11:34 a.m., a little more than 20 minutes after firefighters arrived at the scene. The last fire units departed the scene at about 1:04 p.m. Thursday. The family declined assistance from the Red Cross and elected to stay with relatives, Walling said. This incident occured in Berkeley County. |
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Story by: Edward Marshall Source: The Journal |
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