Seven Dead In W.V. Apartment Fire

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.
The worst fire to hit this Ohio River city in 50 years has resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and fire officials fear the death toll could go higher.

The fire broke out in the 64-unit, five-story building late last night.

Huntington Fire Chief Greg Fuller says crews found three bodies on the building's top floor while fighting the blaze.

www.wchstv.com

The City of Huntington and Marshall University have been dealt another tragedy. This time a fire claimed the lives of seven residents of the five story building on Saturday nite. Fire crews found the first three bodies while doing an interior attack on the fire while the conditions of the building permitted it. The other four bodies were found this morning when search crews went back to the top floor of the building on Sunday morning.

The complete roof collapse and partial floor collapse on the fire floor that kept firefighters from going back into the building and searching for more victims. Fire officials are worried that the death toll may go up in the next few hours.

If I recieve any updates on the situation, I will let you all know.

--UPDATE--

I hate to report this, but it has been confirmed by one of the local television stations here that one of the fatalities is a child. However, the child's age and name has not been released as of yet. However, Huntington Fire Chief Greg Fuller said

fourteen people were rescued from the building and four are listed in serious or critical condition. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and released.

The chief says there were some smoke alarms in the building, which was built in 1924,, but he's unsure how many were working at the time.

Seven deaths from an apartment fire is bad enough, but it could have been a whole lot worse than what it was.

Plus, this is not the first large fire in the City of Huntington this week. Last Wednesday, half a city block caught fire and kept city firefighters tied up for over four and a half hours.

[edit on 1/15/2007 by gimmefootball400]

[edit on 1/15/2007 by gimmefootball400]