| |    McMECHEN -- The home of Rodney Wyatt, of 1316 Caldwell Street, was destroyed Monday after a fire. Neighbors say they heard a boom and then saw heavy smoke. Crews from McMechen, Benwood and Glendale battled the blaze for almost two hours. Wyatt's son, Cory, is one of the fireman called to the scene. Rodney Wyatt said he was asleep just feet away from the flames when the fire began. Donations for the family are being taken at the McMechen Fire Department. By JIM COCHRAN  | Photo by Jim Cochran
Firefighters battle a blaze at a Caldwell Street home on Monday as spectators look on. The fire left a family of five homeless. |
McMECHEN — A family of five is homeless after fire destroyed their Caldwell Street home Monday.
Rodney Wayt, 46, was the only member of the family at the 1316 Caldwell St. residence when he woke to the smell of smoke shortly before noon and was able to get to safety, along with two dogs and a cat.
Wayt told McMechen Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Kenny Robbins he believes the fire originated in the dining room walls.
Robbins said McMechen firefighters told him that when they arrived on the scene, the frame structure was engulfed in flames. The Benwood, Boggs Run, Glen Dale and Moundsville volunteer fire departments responded to the blaze as well.
McMechen Police Chief George Paugh said he was traveling south on Marshall Street when he was informed of the fire and proceeded to the scene.
There he learned from Wayt, who was outside at a neighbor’s residence, that there was no one in the structure.
On their arrival, firefighters connected a hose to a hydrant at 13th and Marshall streets and proceeded to the site of the fire.
No adjoining house seemed to be in danger of catching fire once firefighters arrived on the scene, as there was one vacant lot between the Wayt residence and the house to the south and two vacant lots between the blazing structure and the house to the north.
Wayt said the family had lived at the residence for the past eight years. He said the family owned the home.
Wayt said at the time of the fire his wife, Sandy, was at work at Family Dollar in Moundsville; sons Corey, 20; Rodney Jr., 18; and Chad, 16, were not home at the time. Wayt said Corey is a student at Belmont Technical College, while Rodney Jr. and Chad both are students at John Marshall High School.
Although he was able to get his dogs and cat to safety, Wayt said because of the smoke he was unable to get to a pet lizard on the top floor of the house.
Wayt said in recent years he has had health problems, including heart surgery, and is scheduled to have surgery on the arteries of his leg Friday.
“In addition to medical problems, now this,” Wayt said.
Wayt noted he has a brother and a sister, both in Moundsville, and that the family will be staying with them for the time being. |
McMECHEN -- The home of Rodney Wyatt, of 1316 Caldwell Street, was destroyed Monday after a fire. Neighbors say they heard a boom and then saw heavy smoke. Crews from McMechen, Benwood and Glendale battled the blaze for almost two hours. Wyatt's son, Cory, is one of the fireman called to the scene. Rodney Wyatt said he was asleep just feet away from the flames when the fire began. Donations for the family are being taken at the McMechen Fire Department. By JIM COCHRAN | Photo by Jim Cochran
Firefighters battle a blaze at a Caldwell Street home on Monday as spectators look on. The fire left a family of five homeless. |
McMECHEN — A family of five is homeless after fire destroyed their Caldwell Street home Monday.
Rodney Wayt, 46, was the only member of the family at the 1316 Caldwell St. residence when he woke to the smell of smoke shortly before noon and was able to get to safety, along with two dogs and a cat.
Wayt told McMechen Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Kenny Robbins he believes the fire originated in the dining room walls.
Robbins said McMechen firefighters told him that when they arrived on the scene, the frame structure was engulfed in flames. The Benwood, Boggs Run, Glen Dale and Moundsville volunteer fire departments responded to the blaze as well.
McMechen Police Chief George Paugh said he was traveling south on Marshall Street when he was informed of the fire and proceeded to the scene.
There he learned from Wayt, who was outside at a neighbor’s residence, that there was no one in the structure.
On their arrival, firefighters connected a hose to a hydrant at 13th and Marshall streets and proceeded to the site of the fire.
No adjoining house seemed to be in danger of catching fire once firefighters arrived on the scene, as there was one vacant lot between the Wayt residence and the house to the south and two vacant lots between the blazing structure and the house to the north.
Wayt said the family had lived at the residence for the past eight years. He said the family owned the home.
Wayt said at the time of the fire his wife, Sandy, was at work at Family Dollar in Moundsville; sons Corey, 20; Rodney Jr., 18; and Chad, 16, were not home at the time. Wayt said Corey is a student at Belmont Technical College, while Rodney Jr. and Chad both are students at John Marshall High School.
Although he was able to get his dogs and cat to safety, Wayt said because of the smoke he was unable to get to a pet lizard on the top floor of the house.
Wayt said in recent years he has had health problems, including heart surgery, and is scheduled to have surgery on the arteries of his leg Friday.
“In addition to medical problems, now this,” Wayt said.
Wayt noted he has a brother and a sister, both in Moundsville, and that the family will be staying with them for the time being. |
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