Pomeroy blaze claims three structures, 9 alarm fire
The fire apppears to have started in a vacant home. Photo by Keith Wood.
UPDATED – A total of six fire fire fighters have been transported to the emergency room after being over come by heat. Read more below.
POMEROY – A fire which started in a vacant home on Spring Avenue quickly spread to a condemned house Wednesday afternoon resulting in nine fire departments responding to the blaze.
The nine alarm fire brought in a massive response from area fire departments led by the Pomeroy Fire Department. The fire fighters were fighting not only the flames, but heat and water issues also. Four fire hydrants were being used by the fire department on the blaze.
The two structures are a total loss as fire fighters worked to keep the flames from spreading further. One structure adjacent to one of the homes was also damaged. According to Pomeroy Fire Chief, Rick Blaettnar, 97 people were without power. Fire fighters utilized a ladder truck to extinguish the remaining flames and in doing so water lines were going across some power lines. American Electric Power has been on scene as well.
Chief Blaettnar also said there have been two Pomeroy fire fighters transported to the emergency room after being over come by heat. In addition to the Pomeroy fire fighters, two from Syracuse, one from Chester and one from Mason were transported for being over come by heat as well. He said they were doing all right.
He also said the cause of the fire is “undetermined at this time.”. The State Fire Marshall’s Office will be investigating according to Chief Blaettnar. The fire marshall had been on scene earlier and will conduct an investigation once the fire is out. Both structures were vacant. The fire appears to have started at 226 Spring Avenue and spread to a large building next door that at one time the large building was a hotel. The old hotel had been condemned as the sign could still be seen swinging off the smoldering structure. The hotel had bathrooms and safes in the rooms which have been falling through the floors. He said it is not safe to send fire fighters inside.
Fire departments in addition to Pomeroy responding were Middleport, Chester, Rutland, Racine, Syracuse, and Albany. Additionally, Mason and New Haven fire departments from West Virginia responded as well. Meigs EMS had multiple squads on scene as a call went out for ice and water. Some area residents also brought water and ice for the fire fighters. The Pomeroy and Middleport Police departments also responded along with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office.
Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood happened to have just passed Spring Avenue when he heard the tones called out. He quickly turned around and confirmed it was indeed a working structure fire. He said he yelled in to see if anyone was inside, but the home appeared vacant.
Spring Avenue will remain closed until the fire is out.
