The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • An early morning fire damaged one of the historic log homes behind the youth museum at Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. F. Brian Ferguson

    logfire
July 27, 2012

Fire damages log structure at Mountain Homestead Museum

By Kara Van Pelt Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — Beckley city firefighters were on the scene of a structure fire for several hours early Thursday after a passer-by noticed flames coming from the Beckley Mountain Homestead Museum on Ewart Avenue next to the Exhibition Coal Mine.

Firefighters were dispatched to the structure at approximately 2 a.m., Lt. Terry Fischer explained. Upon arrival, the fire was in full force as 85 percent to 90 percent of the structure was involved, he added.

No firefighters went inside the structure as crews used a defensive attack to fight the blaze, extinguishing the fire through outside efforts. The fire was put out in approximately 30 minutes, he explained, but for safety purposes, firefighters stayed on the scene to ensure the fire didn’t rekindle.

The log structure, although heavily impacted by the fire, fared considerably well, Fischer said. He pointed to the quality of the wood used in the log cabin as the reason it didn’t completely succumb to the powerful flames.

“The property can be rehabilitated,” he said. “It was not a complete loss.”

Although Lt. Ernie Parsons, certified inspector for Beckley Fire Department, has yet to determine the origin of the fire, Fischer said initial investigations did not indicate foul play.

A total of 10 firefighters and three engines successfully battled the blaze, and no injuries were sustained.

The investigation is ongoing.

— E-mail: kvanpelt@register-herald.com

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