The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

August 24, 2008

Midnight fire destroys rafting offices in Fayetteville

By Matthew Hill

An early morning fire near Fayetteville Sunday destroyed the offices of the Passages to Adventure rafting company, a Fayetteville Fire Department spokesperson said later that day.

According to Meredith Bus-kus, public information officer for the department, between 60 and 70 firefighters from seven fire departments battled the blaze for five hours. Fayetteville firefighters returned to the scene two hours after that to extinguish a temporary rekindling.

The fire was reported at 12:18 a.m. “When the first Fayetteville unit arrived on the scene, flames were already through the roof and contained half the building,” Buskus explained.

Firefighters from Ansted, Bradley-Prosperity, Gauley Bridge, Mount Hope, Nuttall and Oak Hill assisted the Fayetteville Fire Department in fighting the fire, while Fayetteville police officers and Fayette County sheriff’s deputies helped with traffic control, said Buskus.

The scene was cleared at 5:20 a.m., and Buskus laid some of the blame for the long delay on the poor water flow from the closest hydrant. “Firefighting tactics were hindered by the amount of water flow at the closest hydrant,” she said.

“They had to set up a shuttle system from Fayette Town Center to help contain the blaze. There is limited water flow from the hydrants in our town. They basically set up a system of two to four trucks shuttling back and forth and supplying the main engine for fire suppression. They filled up the main pumping truck by feeding into its (1,000-gallon) tank.”

Buskus described the building as a total loss, adding that the state fire marshal has been called in to investigate. “Due to the total value of the building, they wanted to go ahead and bring them (fire marshal’s office) in. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time,” she noted.

One Oak Hill firefighter sustained a minor injury to his foot and required stitches when a sharp object cut through his boot and pierced his foot, Buskus stated. Otherwise, there were no injuries or fatalities.

— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com

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