Community

Fire Damages Duplex on 25th Street in Wheeling

Emma Delk

The Wheeling Fire Department and Wheeling Police Department responded to a duplex structure fire on 25th Street in Center Wheeling at approximately 8:30 p.m., according to WFD Assistant Chief Eric Cianelli.

The fire began on the second floor of the apartment located on the left side of the building. Crews were able to get the fire down "under 10 minutes," according to Cianelli, and prevented the fire from spreading to the neighboring apartment.

Nobody was home at the time of the incident and there were no injuries reported. Cianelli said the WFD was still trying to make contact with the resident of the left side apartment who was at work when the fire began.

The residents on the right side of the building were able to evacuate the building when the fire began. Firefighters were able to rescue a bearded dragon that belonged to the residents and were attempting to locate two cats in the building after the fire had been put out.

"I'm not sure of the status of the bearded dragon," noted Cianelli. "They [WFD] went back to get a little girl's stuffed animal, but nobody was inside the apartment when the fire began."

The residents on the right side of the building were staying the night somewhere else, according to Cianelli, and would be able to return when the utilities for the house were turned back on.

Cianelli reported the building was "not a total loss," with the affected side requiring "extensive cleanups." The neighboring side received "some smoke damage," said Cianelli.

"We did not use too much water but we did perform some salvage and cover a lot of their furniture," said Cianelli on the damage done to the neighboring side of the building.

The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation by the department Bureau of Fire Investigations.