Morgantown Fire Department In Action

Incident #01-406
    At 1752 hrs. on February 19, 2001, an off duty U.S. Marshall noticed flames inside a vacant warehouse and notified the 911 center of a structure fire in the old Sterling Warehouse in Sabraton.  Crews were dispatched and arrived on scene at 1754 hrs and called nothing showing.  Within the next couple of minutes, the fire erupted and engulfed the vacant warehouse, which was in the process of being demolished. This made an interior attack unfeasible and dangerous.  The fire went to 4 alarms and most of the fire fighting was done with Ladder 1.  The fire was declared under control at 1913 hrs. and the last unit cleared scene at 0308.
11 Pictures - Courtesy of Bob Gay and Mike Bean

Incident #01-387
    On Saturday February 17, 2001, the Morgantown Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 917 Snider Street at 1334 hrs.  The first unit arriving on scene called a working structure fire and a third alarm was called.  The fire was rapidly moving from a room and contents fire to completly engulfing the second floor of the structure when firefighter made entry into the structure.  There was heat damage throughout the second floor and some fire extension into the attic when the fire was brought under control at 1422 hrs.  Total damage estimates were $50.000 and the cause was an unattended candle.
7 Pictures - Courtesy of Mike Bean

Incident #00-1269
    On July 2, 2000, at 1417 hrs. the Morgantown Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 1596 Deckers Creek Rd.  Just after leaving station, heavy smoke was visible in the area and a 4th alarm was called.  Upon arrival, heavy fire venting from the garage area greeted the 3 man engine company.  An aggressive exterior attack was made, followed by and interior attack shortly after the heavy fire was knocked down.  The fire was declared under control at 1450 hrs, 33 minutes after the initial call.  The cause of the fire was arson and is still under investigation.
6 Pictures - Courtesy of Mike Bean

Incident #00-1165
    A phone call to our 911 center on June 12, 2000, reported smoke in the area of Snider Street,  1 engine and the rescue was sent to investigate.  What they found when they got in the area was smoke coming from 763 Snider St. and at that time a third alarm was struck.  An interior attack was made and a fire in the basement was found and quickly extinguished.  The cause of the fire was an electrical short.
3 Pictures - Courtesy of Mike Bean

Incident #00-621
    A fire department pick-up truck from the Norwood Fire Station checking out a controlled burn for the second time that night pulled into Eljadid Street to discover a major building fire.  The call came in at 1949 hrs, and by the time the first engine got on scene, at 1953 hrs, there was already too much for Co. 2 to handle.  It took 3 engines, 1 ladder and 1 rescue, and 16 personnel to bring under control 6 hours later.  The ;ast unit cleared scene at 0041 hrs.  The building was in the process of being torn down to make way for the new Sabraton post office.
11 - Pictures - Courtesy of Bob Gay

Incident #99-1538
    The first snow of winter greeted the fire fighters as they pulled on to scene of a kitchen fire that was caused by a coffee maker.  The call was received at 1258 hrs. and first in units arrived at 1305.  The fire was confined to the kitchen and smoke and heat damage throughout the first floor.  The fire was called under control at 1331.  Damage estimates  on this structure were in the neighborhood of $125,000.  No injuries were sustained, but the family pet perished in the blaze.
12 Pictures - Courtesy of Mike Bean

Incident #99-0614
    On June 20. 1999, at 2005 hrs., the Morgantown Fire Department received a call for a reported structure fire at 666 Willey Street.   Engine 1 arrived on scene at 2009 hrs and had smoke showing.  A successful  interior attack was established and the fire was declared under control at 2027 hrs.  Upon investigation, the fire had started in the kitchen and was electrical in nature.  No one was home at the time of the fire.
8 Pictures - Courtesy of Mike Bean

Incident # 98-1636
    This call was received at 03:18 hrs, December 31, 1998. Upon arrival first in units were confronted with a heavy volume of smoke and heat in a 2 story wood frame taxpayer, located in the heart of the downtown business district.  The business housed a sporting goods shop, and had a large amount of chemicals inside, including paraffin wax used for ski tuning & chlorine for pool/spa treatment. The fire originated in a maintenance shop, used for ski repairs. Cold temperatures and snow hampered fire fighting efforts, with an air temp of 4°, and a wind chill of -14°.  Added to this was the fact that there was an occupied 3 story apartment building with flame impingement on side 4.  Fire damage was contained to the building of origin, with a damage value set at appx $800,000. The exposure received appx $25,000 damage, mostly due to fire control efforts from within that building.
9 Pictures-Photos courtesy of Frank G. Cox Jr.

Incident # 97-1341
    On December 20, 1997, CDI, Controlled Demolition, Inc., visited Morgantown.  The reason was to fall a chimney owned by WVU.  The chimney has graced the banks of the Mononghelia River for at least 50 years.
4 Pictures - Photos Courtesy of Controlled Demolition, Inc.

Incident # 96-952
    On October 12, 1996 at 0943, MFD responded to a report of a confirmed structure fire, unknown entrapment, at 456 Overhill St, in the Wiles Hill section of the city. Co. 3 arrived on scene at 0946, reporting heavy smoke conditions, with 2 exposures less than 30' away. An interior attack was mounted, with a heavy volume of fire found in the first floor kitchen with extension into the above floor bedroom & attic. Initial knockdown was accomplished within 15 minutes. Further investigation found that the fire had burned approximately 40 minutes prior to the FD notification, allowing the second floor bedroom to collapse into the well involved kitchen area. Fire damage was contained to these two areas with slight extension into the attic. Heat damage was heavy throughout the entire structure. Following interviews of the owners it was determined that an occupant had been cooking waffles in a toaster & had accidentally forgotten about them prior to leaving the residence. The waffles had swelled, causing the toaster to malfunction, igniting the kitchen. Damage was listed at $50,000.
5 Pictures - Photos Courtesy of Tom Habak

Incident # 96-1129
    Historic Woodburn Hall, on the Downtown Campus of WVU was the target of an arsonist on the night of November 17, 1996. While 3 companies were fighting a rash of dumpster fires, we had a call for a rubbish pile on fire behind Woodburn Hall. Maybe the building was not the target of the arsonist that night but the pile of construction materials were. The fire was started outside on the pile and the heat had broken a first floor window and the fire extended into the structure. By the time the fire was brought under control 3 rooms were damaged by fire, and smoke damage throughout the building. Total damages that night to Woodburn Hall were in excess of $200,000 dollars.
1 Picture -Photo Courtesy of The The Daily Athenaeum

Car Fire
    An early evening car fire in the student section of town. An early call to 911 helped prevent this car from becoming fully involved.
2 Pictures -Photo Courtesy of The The Daily Athenaeum
 

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