ARACOMA A fatal fire at an apartment building fire in Aracoma.
Route ten at Aracoma in the West Logan area was closed for most of the morning Monday as firefighters from several fire departments battled a large structure fire that claimed the life of one occupant.
The fire was first reported around three o’clock Monday morning at 16 Holly Avenue for a ten unit apartment building known as the Holly Apartments. According to the City of Logan Fire Chief Scott Beckett, the initial call didn’t specify a large apartment building. He said fire crews arrived on scene to flames shooting through the roof of the building and around fifty percent involved.
“Ended up being just a huge defensive operation,” Chief Becket said. “We were trying not to lose Gino’s or any infrastructure. We have a lot of high voltage lines and stuff like that, so we tried to protect everything in order to get in there. Sad part is we had a fatality.”
The identity of the fatality has not been released. Moreover, two others were reportedly transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office, Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police are investigating. No word yet on the cause of the fire.
City of Logan Fire Department was assisted by the Cora, Henlawson and Verdunville volunteer fire departments.
The fire forced the shut down of nearby route ten and forcing motorists on the morning commute to travel US 119.
All three Living Waters Medical Center locations are accepting donations to be distributed to the affected families being assisted by the Red Cross.
PHOTO | Robert Fields