Abandoned House Burns in Bellaire
Trending
First responders were called to a house fire on Noble Street in Bellaire Thursday afternoon. No one was hurt, but multiple agencies cooperated to keep the fire contained.
Emergency vehicles blocked off Noble Street to give the firefighters room to work. Neighbors and passers-by gathered to watch and billows of smoke filled the air as ladders and hoses concentrated on the upper story of the building, where flames were seen leaping at the windows. Law enforcement waved back some small children on bicycles and warned members of the public not to get too close.
Bellaire Police Chief J.J. Watson was on scene and gave some information.
"There was a house fire here at 4289 Noble Street. At this point and time it was a vacant property, nobody was living in it. There was a guy that comes in and feeds some cats, but he is accounted for I believe," Watson said. "Nobody was hurt. We found no animals inside."
At one point, a cat could be observed fleeing from the burning house.
By 6 p.m., Watson said the fire was largely "knocked out."
"They're just cleaning up some hot spots right now," he said.
The cause has yet to be determined.
"At this time it will be under investigation," Watson said. "The Bellaire fire department, they'll end up contacting the fire marshal and the fire marshal will come in to make his assessment."
He said there was no danger to the surrounding houses.
Firefighters from Bellaire, Shadyside, Neffs, Martins Ferry, Bridgeport and the Salvation Army arrived to help.
Neighbor John Showalter watched firefighters douse the conflagration.
"About a half-hour ago I walked out to go down to the gas station. I come out and just happened to notice the fire. I don't think anybody lives there," he said, adding he had some concern for his own residence. "I saw the elevated wildfire risk today so I've been thinking about that. It's a little bit breezy and kind of dry out. ... It's been empty for a while. ... There's a bunch of cats that kind of go in and out of it."