3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Same fire crew responds to 2 deadly fires in 5 days

ST. ALBANS, W.Va. — St. Albans Fire Chief Steve Parsons said firemen get into the business to save lives. Unfortunately that doesn’t always happen and it makes a tough job even tougher.

“You train and you train and you train and you take all this training and when things happen, you expect things to work out,” Parsons said. “But this is not Hollywood, this is real life.”

One particularly shift for the fire department has learned that the hard way in the past week. The crew arrived at a home on Washington Ave. early Sunday morning to a house with flames shooting from a second story window. Only after they arrived did they learn somebody could be trapped inside.

“They immediately made a forced entry and started extinguishing the fire,” he said. “But by that time the victim had already succumbed.”

The victim is identified as Gwen Saulton, 53. Neighbors said she shared the home with her brother. Parsons said they know the cause, but aren’t releasing it until they have all reports completed in the investigation. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the probe.

The same crew who responded to Saulton’s fatal fire responded to a fire last Wednesday where two people died at Benedict Circle. Parsons said the crew will receive counseling.

“Sometimes you forget about the firefighters. It does take a toll,” he said. “I say you have to be like a machine, but you do have to go out and answer the next call, you can’t turn off the business.”





More News

News
UMWA to fight planned Pennsylvania coal mine closure, 700 mining jobs at risk
Mine located south of Waynesburg, Pa., less than 40 miles from Morgantown.
March 28, 2024 - 2:23 pm
News
Bridge collapse having an impact on West Virginia coal shipments
About third of the coal mined in northern West Virginia is shipped out of the presently idled Port of Baltimore
March 28, 2024 - 1:18 pm
News
Charleston animal shelter seeks more donations, fosters following U-Haul crash
The corner roof of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association building was stabilized Thursday morning.
March 28, 2024 - 12:41 pm
News
Controversial unemployment bill becomes law without governor's signature
The bill freezes employer contributions and freezes benefits for people who lose their jobs.
March 28, 2024 - 12:20 pm


Your Comments