NEW CREEK, W.Va. — Family members rescued a woman from her New Creek home late Friday — one of two weekend blazes within hours of one another in Mineral County, authorities said.
First responders from Mineral, Grant and Allegany counties were called to Long Way Drive in New Creek just before 11 p.m. Friday, according to a 911 center spokesperson.
“The house was down a long driveway, as I pulled up there was initially just smoke, but then fire vented out the bathroom window,” New Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dustin Amtower said.
Amtower said he was met by family members of the occupant, who was still in the residence. He said he attempted to enter the home, but had to back out because of smoke.
Another family member soon arrived with a ladder, which was used to help the occupant escape the home.
“The credit goes to the family for getting their mother out,” Amtower said.
The fire was isolated to a bathroom and the attic space above it and took approximately 10 minutes to control, Amtower said. There was smoke and water damage to other parts of the farmhouse that was built in 1884, he said.
The occupant and family member that performed the rescue were evaluated by medical personnel, but declined further treatment. No other injuries were reported.
Approximately 30 first responders assisted, returning to service at 1:15 a.m., according to Amtower.
“One thing that helped keep this fire in check was the door being closed to the (fire) room,” Amtower said. “Leaving doors open allows fire spread.”
Amtower said citizens should leave doors closed at night when sleeping for their safety. This slows the spread of flames, smoke, heat and toxic gases emitted during a fire.
A few hours later in Keyser, first responders from Mineral, Allegany and Garrett counties were alerted to a garage fire on James Street just after 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the 911 center spokesperson.
“When I arrived on the scene there was fire coming out both sides of the garage and to the rear, towards the house,” Keyser Fire Department Chief Christopher Keyes said. “The fire then breeched out both of the garage doors towards the alley.”
Keyes said there were no injuries.
“The garage had a truck and some tools on one side, and I believe the other side was used for storage,” Keyes said. “It took about 15 or 20 minutes to control the fire, but units remained on scene for two more hours.”
Keyes added there was nothing suspicious about the blaze and the cause had not been determined.
Approximately 24 firefighters operated on the scene.
The weekend fires came days after a Nov. 10 blaze at a Parkview Drive residence in Keyser’s West End killed two women. That fire remains under investigation by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s office.