KEYSER, W.Va. — Two women died in a house fire early Monday in Mineral County, Keyser Fire Department Chief Christopher Keyes said.
Volunteer firefighters from Mineral and Grant counties in West Virginia and Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland were alerted to the blaze on Parkview Drive in Keyser’s West End about 3:20 a.m. The first call reporting the fire came from a passerby.
“After units were alerted and I got in my vehicle, Keyser Police Department was on the scene confirming a working house fire,” Keyes said. “When I arrived on the scene, the house was fully engulfed with flames exiting the eaves (of the roof) and all windows.”
Fire department officials were notified that there may be an elderly female inside the residence as Keyes assessed the fire from outside the single-story dwelling with basement.
“There was no way to enter the house without a hose line,” Keyes said.
When fire apparatus began to arrive, firefighters entered the front room and knocked down the fire, according to Keyes.
“That is when we located the first victim,” Keyes said. “… and less than five feet away, a second victim was located under some debris.”
Keyes said it took two and a half hours to bring the fire under complete control.
“We had (approximately) 44 firefighters operating on the scene,” Keyes said, adding his department was there for seven hours.
The Office of the West Virginia State Fire Marshal is investigating.
Keyes said that when a devastating event occurs in the community, it is a reminder to residents to make sure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
“Make sure you know the best egress out of your residence in case of an emergency,” Keyes said.