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Don Collins, with the Fayette Township Fire District No. 1, removes a kitten from the scene of a structure fire late Thursday afternoon in downtown Chesapeake. The fire started in a unoccupied structure, located on Township Road 1042, and spread to the neighboring home.

Abandoned house burns

Fire marshal investigating Chesapeake fire

By Benita Heath | The Tribune

Published Friday, July 3, 2009

CHESAPEAKE — The state fire marshal continues to investigate a structure fire that happened mid morning Thursday near the village limits of Chesapeake.

A fire broke out in abandoned one-story frame house off County Road 1 around 10:45 a.m. The blaze then spread to an adjacent house. Those living in the second house were out of town at the time, according to Matt Parnell, assistant chief of Chesapeake-Union Volunteer Fire Department.

The first structure is a total loss. The second house sustained damage to the exterior and the attic, Parnell said. There were no injuries.

The Chesapeake unit was assisted by Proctorville and Fayette Township firefighters. All crews were on the scene for approximately three hours.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, according to Shane Cartmill, public information officer for the state fire marshal.

“However, because of the circumstances, investigators are looking into the possibility that the fire was intentionally set,” Cartmill said.

The fire was reported by employees at a nearby business. The destroyed structure had been abandoned for some time and the utilities had already been turned out.

Coincidently a fire marshal investigator was in the area and was able to begin work on the Chesapeake fire immediately.

Anyone having information is asked to contact the fire marshal’s office at 800-589-2728.

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