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NEWS
Chesapeake fire remains under investigation
CHESAPEAKE, Ohio -- Investigators from the Ohio State Fire Marshal's office are still investigating a fire at a one-story home in Chesapeake, Ohio, on Monday night.
The marshal's office issued a release Tuesday afternoon saying the cause of the fire remains undetermined. The fire injured one woman and destroyed a one-story home on Buffalo Creek Road on Monday evening, according to firefighters.
Authorities initially feared the woman's child was missing or trapped in the home, but later confirmed that the child was at a grandparent's home, according to Detective Aaron Bollinger of the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department.
Crews were called to the residence on Private Drive 7882 County Road 15 (also called Buffalo Creek Road) around 6 p.m. and arrived to find the home engulfed in flames.
Bollinger said the woman was believed to be conscious when the first firefighters arrived on scene. She was transported by Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services to Cabell Huntington Hospital. The woman remains seriously injured and is unable to give fire marshal officials any statement, according to the release.
Capt. John Whitley, of Fayette Township Fire District 1, said firefighters arrived on scene within 10 minutes, despite downed power lines in their way.
He said the one-story residence with basement and attic was a total loss.
"Nothing's salvageable," Whitley said.
While crews battled the blaze and searched the home, Bollinger estimated he spent at least 30 minutes on the phone trying to verify the child's location. It was eventually confirmed that the child was at his or her grandfather's house, and the child's father was working out of state.
He said the fire departments, law enforcement and emergency crews worked together well to make sure everyone was accounted for from the home.
Chesapeake Assistant Fire Chief Ed Webb also said the teams worked together well on Monday. He said firefighters were able to connect to a fire hydrant near the home, but they still needed a lot of manpower because of the heat and difficulties accessing the home about 200 yards up a hill.
"Every firefighter was having to carry everything he needed to fight the fire," Webb said.
Webb said auxiliary departments helped firefighters keep cool by supplying water and ice during the fire. No firefighters were reported to be injured.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire departments on scene included Fayette Fire Districts 1 and 2, Chesapeake Fire Department, Proctorville Fire Department, South Point Fire Department and Rome Volunteer Fire Department.
