House Fire – 1702 Spring St

04/17/2013 – Around 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, a passerby walked into Fire Station 2 to report that they saw smoke coming from a house down the street. The engine company responded and requested a full assignment. 

Upon arrival, the first engine company reported a working fire with heavy smoke and flames visible from a basement window. They forced entry and used a cellar nozzle to pierce through the floor and into the basement compartment, quickly knocking down the fire within a few minutes.

“Basement fires can be very difficult to fight. While you are traveling down, you are essentially walking down a chimney with flames and hot fire gases traveling up,” said Fire Chief Eric Taylor. “The cellar nozzle is spear shaped to puncture the compartment followed by a sprinkler head supplied by the hose line.”

The bulk of the fire was under control within 10 minutes, but crews remained on scene for about an hour searching for hot spots. The home was vacant and no injuries were reported. It is owned by Ray and Lisa Weaver of Williamstown. Damages are estimated at $20,000.

Fire investigators determined multiple points of origin and have ruled the fire as incendiary. Students at Mountain State College witnessed a male subject running from the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact fire investigators. Anonymous information can be left on the fire department website at www.OnlyMinutesAway.com