CLARKSBURG -- A fire Thursday night west of Clarksburg destroyed one house and damaged two others, a fire chief said.
No one was injured, said Chief Mike Gallo of the Reynoldsville Volunteer Fire Department.
The home destroyed in the fire -- located on Chicken Farm Road near Reynoldsville -- was occupied by Vada Garrett, Gallo and Garrett's relatives said. She was in Ohio at the time of the fire, they said. Her car, parked next to the home, also was damaged, Gallo said.
Next door, about 15 feet to the south of the home occupied by Garrett, Earl Hitt's home appeared to have sustained damage to its side and its roof, Gallo said.
To the north, about 50 feet from the home occupied by Garrett, part of the siding on Sue Nutter's home melted, Gallo said.
Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 7:20 p.m. Neighbor Hitt said he thought it was a bonfire at first, but saw flames shooting from the back of the house when he went to investigate.
Gallo said firefighters from Reynoldsville, Salem, Nutter Fort, Summit Park and Stonewood, along with the Harrison County EMS, responded quickly.
He credited that fast arrival with helping prevent the fire from spreading to destroy the houses next door. Gallo added that firefighters' efforts were hindered as they had to avoid a downed power line.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, Gallo said.
Assistant Managing Editor Matt Harvey can be reached at 626-1032, or by e-mail at mharvey@exponent-telegram.com
