Local firefighters Saturday at Fifth and Stone in Belpre where an apartment house caught fire. Hotspots rekindled on Sunday morning, but were extinguished again by the fire department. (Photo provided)

BELPRE – Firefighters returned to an apartment building in Belpre on Sunday morning where the remnants re-ignited from a Saturday afternoon fire, the mayor said.

City officials are awaiting the results of an investigation into the cause by the Ohio Fire Marshal, but will hold an internal debriefing on the fire at 10 a.m. today to review the city’s response and what information may be known, Mayor Mayor Susan Abdella said. The hot spots that re-kindled Sunday morning were extinguished by the fire department, Abdella said.

No one was hurt at Fifth Street and Stone Road, where officials said an explosion and fire occurred around 3:40 p.m. Saturday. At least one neighbor told the newspaper everything shook and the roof of the apartment building had come off and landed in trees and on other roofs.

No one was home at the time of the explosion. A cause has yet to be determined and the home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

The Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley was notified of the incident and a disaster action team was available if needed, Executive Director Sharon Kesselring said.

“We did respond to the scene,” she said.

In the meantime, the city of Belpre on Sunday morning issued a release thanking departments that responded to the fire.

“The city of Belpre would like to thank all the first responders from Belpre, Little Hocking, Dunham and Warren volunteer fire departments for their outstanding work today during a devastating explosion. We are fortunate no injuries occurred,” the city said. “We also appreciate the support of the city of Belpre EMS, the Belpre Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State (Highway) Patrol.”

The emergency room at Marietta Memorial Hospital prepared in case of injuries and WVU Medicine was providing additional coverage for other emergencies, the city said.

“Thank you to the other local mayors for reaching out offering support for any other needs and all the citizens dropping off food for the firefighters,” the city said. “It’s incredible seeing such team work, collaboration and caring by our community.”

Vienna Mayor Chad Emerick Sunday also issued a statement saying he was thankful no injuries occurred.

“Situations like this can be frightening for the families involved, neighbors and first responders who respond to the scene,” he said.