Published: April 08, 2009 01:58 am      

Firefighters extinguish blaze at Shaffer’s Garage

FAIRMONT — Firefighters quickly extinguished a blaze in Winfield District Tuesday night.

The fire broke out in Shaffer’s Garage on Ross Street in the Winfield District at 6 p.m., said a dispatcher at Marion County Central Communications. Firefighters from the Winfield Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Bunner Ridge volunteer firefighters along with those from the Pleasant Valley Department were also on hand to help battle the blaze.

The fire appears to have been started by a coal-burning stove, said a firefighter with the Winfield department. The firefighter, who did not wish to be identified, said the blaze did not appear to be suspicious. However, the state fire marshal will be called in to investigate the scene.

The fire was extinguished about 30 minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene. The firefighters first entered the garage to extinguish flames on the ground floor.

However, the firefighters then discovered that the fire had spread into the attic of the structure. Therefore, the firefighters cut holes in the roof of the structure. After the holes were cut in the roof, water hoses were used to flood the attic and extinguish the flames there.

Most of the damage to the structure was caused by water, said a firefighter who had responded. No injuries were reported because of the blaze.

E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.