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Cause of Marlinton fire still undetermined

MARLINTON, W.Va. – More than three days after a fire ripped through downtown Marlinton destroying an entire city block, there’s still no word on what sparked the blaze.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office and West Virginia State Police are jointly working to determine the cause. Assistant State Fire Marshal Patrick Barker said he’s been on the scene since Sunday morning shortly after the fire broke out.

“We spent the majority of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on scene taking a number of statements, talking to a number people to gather information,” according to Barker.

They have determined that the fire started somewhere within the Hudson V&S Variety Store but at this point investigators can’t even get inside what’s left of that building.

“The building itself is structurally unsafe for us to enter into in certain portions because of the fire still being active and the condition of the structure due to collapse,” explained Barker.

The rubble is still smoldering and fire officials expect that to continue for several more days. Barker said until they can safely enter the building they can’t pinpoint if the fire was accidental or arson.

“It will be a drawn out process,” Barker predicted.

The fire was reported around 3:30 Sunday morning. By the time fire crews arrived on scene flames had spread from the variety store to the two buildings next door which housed an insurance office, an H&R Block, a coffee shop and apartments in the old Marlinton Bank Building. All that’s left of that three-story structure are a few bricks on the ground level.

Seven families were displaced as a result of the fire. They got out with just the clothes on their backs. No one was seriously injured. The Red Cross is working with those families to find long term housing. The community has also come together holding a clothing drive and opening an account at the Pendleton Community Bank in Marlinton to take monetary donations.





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