Rapidly spreading fire threatens several structures
Quick response brings blaze under control
Firemen from three departments fight blaze
By Bob Weaver
At least two structures were destroyed in an early morning fire in Grantsville, with several others receiving damage.
A quick response by the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department knocked the flames down, in a fire that was quickly spreading to adjacent structures between Court and Hardman Street.
Fire Chief Craig Gherke said "This fire, if it hadn't been brought under control, could have been a major blaze."
Gherke said neighbors reported the fire started in an area along Hardman Street where there was a camper with an add-on building.
The State Fire Marshall has been notified, the blaze is considered a suspicious fire.
None of the houses were occupied.
The Arnoldsburg and Upper West Fork VFDs responded with pumpers and tankers following the first page at 2:19 a.m.
Two dwellings reportedly owned by Bim Smith, one recently occupied by Mary Ball, were total losses.
The former Marguerite Basnett house and a house belonging to Jim Morris received damage, and several others had damage to siding and walls.
Fire erupts from front of dwelling facing Court Street with
charred remains where fire reportedly started on Hardman Street
Firemen fight blaze on second story (left)
and several fronts from the ground (right)
A house occupied by Steve Barr and his family, a few feet from the Smith house, was saved.
Barr said he was awakened by the fire and got his family out of the house.
Levi Fowler, who lives with his family across Hardman Street, said he was awakened by the noise of electrical arcing.
Councilwoman JoAnn Shock said she also called 911, noticing the siding on her house was melting.
Firemen were still on the scene at 5 a.m.
Fire damaged outside of former Basnett house on Hardman Street
Fire trucks lined down Court Street
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