Two Injured When Blaze Engulfs Elm Grove Home
Flames emerge from the roof of the home on 2359 Upper Power Ave. in the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling early Monday evening, when firefighters battled the blaze that injured two residents.
Eric Ayres
Flames emerge from the roof of the home on 2359 Upper Power Ave. in the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling early Monday evening, when firefighters battled the blaze that injured two residents.
Eric Ayres
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Two people were injured in a house fire that destroyed a hillside home in the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling early Monday evening.
Crews from the Wheeling Fire Department were called to the scene of a house fire at 2359 Upper Power Ave. at 5:18 p.m. Monday. Upon arrival, firefighters found the house fully engulfed in flames.
Two individuals who reportedly were home at the time were able to escape the blaze, but suffered burn injuries and were transported to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital for treatment, officials said.
"We had a report of an explosion," Assistant Chief Paul Harto said. "We haven't confirmed that, but when we arrived, we had heavy fire and smoke showing. Two occupants got out of the house. They were injured and were taken to the hospital with burns. A dog also got burned and is now with Animal Control."
A humane officer was at the scene handling the injured dog while firefighters continued to douse flames emerging from the upper levels of the home with water from every angle. A portion of the front of the house appeared to be missing. Harto noted that there were some partial collapses, and debris from the house was scattered onto the street below.
Craig Collins, who lives across the street from the scene, said he was home when the incident occurred.
"It just blew up," Collins said. "There was a loud explosion. It scared the crap out of me."
Collins said the neighbor and his girlfriend were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire. He said they had lived there for the past two or three years.
"We have the gas shut off," Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier said. "It's still under investigation. We're going to be here a while."
Fire officials on Monday night said they intended to put out the blaze and then send investigators in to help determine the cause of the fire.
Aside from the residents and the dog, no other injuries were reported.