SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — State Senator Greg Boso (R, Nicholas – 11) said a fire that destroyed a home in Summersville on Friday night highlighted the difficulty first responders face during severe weather events.
Boso has been a volunteer firefighter in Summersville for about four decades. He said crews were on scene for more than eight hours as they battled the elements. No injuries were reported.
“It was a very difficult fire,” Boso said during an interview on the MetroNews-affiliated “The Mike Queen Show” on the AJR News Network. “It was a family I’ve known since I was a boy.”
Boso said the heavy snow fall from winter storm Jonas hindered efforts by fire fighters in trying to get to the fire and to set up the equipment to get the fire out.
“Snow fall as it was really imposed a lot of havoc in being able to respond and operate on the fire ground,” he said.
Nicholas County generally saw around 18 to 20 inches of snow from Winter Storm Jonas, with a large portion of that coming Friday night into Saturday morning when crews were battling the blaze.
“Through the course of the day on Friday and into early Saturday morning, in that area we received about 17 or 18 inches of snow fall,” he said. “During the course of the fire we received another five to six inches of snow. So needless to say it was a little taxing on everybody.”
Fires started during a snow storm can occur in several different situations–particularly when dealing with an open fire to keep warm.
Boso said these type of incidents are why he so strongly advocates for volunteer fire departments.
“I have a greater appreciation having done it,” he said. “I have a great appreciation for a firefighters when we get called into those situations for just having to respond in very adverse conditions.”