Afternoon fire destroys Parkersburg house
A Parkersburg firefighter walked past the back of 611 Ward Place while fighting a fire that damaged two houses and two apartment units Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
Parkersburg firefighters worked on putting out a fire that damaged several homes near 611 Ward Place Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
Firefighters directed a stream of water onto the two apartment units that were damage by fire behind the house at 611 Ward Place Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
A Parkersburg firefighter exited a window onto the porch roof of the home at 611 Ward Place that burned Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
Three Parkersburg firefighters directed water into the top of 611 Ward Place while flames burned on the roof of the home. (Photo by Art Smith)
Firefighters from the Parkersburg Fire Department took a break from the heat and smoke while fighting a fire at 611 Ward Place Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
A firefighter took a drink of cold water while taking a break from the heat and smoke of a fire Friday at 611 Ward Place. (Photo by Art Smith)
A Parkersburg firefighter walked past the back of 611 Ward Place while fighting a fire that damaged two houses and two apartment units Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
Parkersburg firefighters worked on putting out a fire that damaged several homes near 611 Ward Place Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
Firefighters directed a stream of water onto the two apartment units that were damage by fire behind the house at 611 Ward Place Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
A Parkersburg firefighter exited a window onto the porch roof of the home at 611 Ward Place that burned Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
Three Parkersburg firefighters directed water into the top of 611 Ward Place while flames burned on the roof of the home. (Photo by Art Smith)
Firefighters from the Parkersburg Fire Department took a break from the heat and smoke while fighting a fire at 611 Ward Place Friday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)
A firefighter took a drink of cold water while taking a break from the heat and smoke of a fire Friday at 611 Ward Place. (Photo by Art Smith)
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- Parkersburg firefighters responded to a structure fire Friday afternoon that severely damaged a house at 611 Ward Place and an adjoining duplex and melted the siding from a home next door.
Bystanders looked on as smoke and flame billowed from the roof of the house. Firefighters worked to combat and contain the blaze, leaving some searching for water and relief from the heat.
There were no injuries reported as the house was reportedly unoccupied and the residents of the duplex, 611 2 and 3, evacuated safely before first responders arrived. The American Red Cross responded to help those affected by the fire.
Parkersburg Fire Chief Jason Matthews said there was significant damage to both the house and duplex at 611, which may result in them being torn down at a later date. The cause of the fire was still under investigation as firefighters continued to dig out and remove any charred debris.
While the house was unoccupied, one cat was rescued by firefighters, and looked after by paramedics from St. Joseph's Ambulance Service who administered eye drops and oxygen, and then handed it over to The Humane Society of Parkersburg for further care.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com.