MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. Volunteer firefighters extinguished a blaze in a single-wide trailer at Healthy Heights Village Tuesday morning.
Triune-Halleck Volunteer Fire Department chief Josh Morgan said the fire was reported to MECCA 911 just after 8 a.m., and a firefighter confirmed the blaze who was nearby in his personal vehicle.
“One of the Clinton District fire trucks showed up first, and they pulled a handline and started doing some exterior operations,” Morgan said.
When members of the Triune-Halleck Volunteer Fire Department arrived, witnesses at the scene said it was possible the wife and children of the family could be inside the property.
“They said maybe the wife and kids were inside, so we did an interior attack aggressively to check for anybody inside, and while we were doing so, we put out the door and learned there were no actual people inside the building,” Morgan said.
Morgan said inside they found three deceased dogs, one dead cat, and other deceased animals.
The investigation into the cause is continuing, but Morgan said there were some indicators at the scene.
“They have some animals that require a heat lamp inside the residence,” Morgan said. “So, we’re leaning toward that, but it’s undetermined at this time.”
During the response, a resident of the property told firefighters that the family had traveled for the Easter holiday and had not returned.
“He did show up on scene and advised his family was out-of-town for the Easter holiday,” Morgan said.
No injuries were reported, and no damage estimate is available.