City of Marlinton firefighters stare at what was a raging inferno Nov. 11 after a fire destroyed four downtown buildings. The blaze has fire officials in other cities fretting that it could happen in their downtowns.
by Jeremiah Shelor
STAFF WRITER
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — After a blaze broke out in downtown Marlinton in the early morning on Nov. 10, leaving seven families homeless.
In the aftermath, firefighters in other towns across the region remain vigilant, looking to protect the numerous historic structures in the area. Older buildings tend to pose the greatest risk of fire, and should a fire break out, these structures create particular challenges for those tasked with stifling the blaze.
“Basically our whole downtown district, our Main Street district, is in the same shape as Marlinton, our buildings are constructed the same way,” said Chief Mitch Tacy of the Buckhannon Fire Department. “You have these older buildings that were constructed many years ago, and at the time they weren’t constructed to meet fire codes.”
“It’s a state-wide problem,” Tacy added.
Chief Chuck Feathers from the Bridgeport Fire Department outlined some of the features of old buildings that make them especially concerning for firefighters…
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