NEW INFORMATION: First responders continue to battle warehouse fire in Parkersburg
UPDATE: PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – Fire crews from across the region are battling a warehouse fire in Parkersburg.
The fire is burning at the Peoples Cartage, Inc. warehouse on Camden Avenue. Wood County Emergency Management says it first broke out on Saturday when cardboard boxes caught fire.
Crews knocked the flames down and left the scene, but the fire rekindled Sunday morning and spread, ultimately involving three connected warehouses. Officials said Sunday they still had not been able to bring the fire fully under control.
Officials say they are pumping water from the river and taking it to the scene to fight the fire. Three pumps are coming from Pittsburgh to also help at the scene.
Eastwood Fire Chief Ron Utt said firefighters have now contained the flames to the back half of the facility and are “very hopeful” they can keep it from spreading further.
Fire Chief Ron Utt said the building is storing mostly plastic materials, which means the smoke is “somewhat toxic,” but there is no evidence at this time of any specific, immediately dangerous chemicals. He urged people to avoid breathing the smoke if at all possible.
People in a wide area around the fire have been asked to shelter in place. The advisory covers the area from Route 50 to Interstate 77 and from Camden Avenue to 7th Street. People are also asked avoid the Camden Avenue area so emergency crews can work.
Utt said the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is on scene taking air samples to determine exactly what’s in the smoke and whether there are any additional health risks, including downwind toward Ritchie County.
The Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department is leading the firefight. Fire departments assisting on scene include Parkersburg, Washington Bottom, Blennerhassett, Mineral Wells, Waverly, Eastwood, Pond Creek, Deerwalk, Belmont, Vienna, Ellenboro, Ravenswood and Smithville. The Marietta Fire Department boat is on standby if it is needed.
Wood County Sheriff, West Virginia State Police, Parkersburg Police Department, West Virginia State Fire Marshal and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection are one scene.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey traveled to Parkersburg Sunday morning and visited the fire scene. He said he directed his team to respond immediately after learning about the incident and wants “the full weight and resources of the state” behind local efforts. Morrisey said multiple fire units have come in from across the region, and that DEP is “getting ready for testing” so officials can report to residents in real time what they are finding in the air.
The American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley is on stand-by to respond to help people at the Wood County Resiliency Center when needed.
Parkersburg, W. Va. (WTAP) - Wood County Emergency Management is planning to hold a news conference at 12:00 pm Sunday to update efforts to fight the fire at the Peoples Cartage, Inc warehouse.
WTAP will air the news conference LIVE on WTAP-TV, WTAP.COM, WTAP Television Facebook.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is visiting the site.
The American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley is on stand-by to respond to help people at the Wood County Resiliency Center when needed.
The Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department is leading the fire fighting efforts. Also on scene are the Parkersburg Fire Department along with Washington Bottom, Blennerhassett, Mineral Wells, Waverly, Eastwood, Pond Creek, Deerwalk, Belmont, Vienna, Ellenboro, Ravenswood and Smithville Volunteer Fire Departments.
Wood County Sheriff, West Virginia State Police, Parkersburg Police Department, West Virginia State Fire Marshal and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection are one scene.
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Parkersburg first responders are at the scene of a warehouse fire.
It is happening at the Peoples Cartage, Inc warehouse on Camden Avenue. People in the area are being asked to shelter in place.
The shelter-in-place included the area from Route 50 to Interstate 77 and from Camden Avenue to 7th Street.
Everyone is also asked to avoid the area.
Wood County Emergency Management says the fire initially started on Saturday at 11:00 am when cardboard boxes caught fire. Three warehouses are now involved.
The fire was stopped when crews left on Saturday and restarted on Sunday morning.
Officials say they have not been able to get it under control.
The Wood County Mobile Command Unit, WVU Medicine, West Virginia State Police, Wood County Sheriff, and multiple fire departments from Wood County are on the scene.
WTAP has multiple reporters on the scene and will have updates as they when possible.
Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.
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