UPDATE (2/9/23 9:40 p.m.):
FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) — A day after a fire destroyed a hotel just outside Fairmont, investigators said they cannot determine its cause.
Due to the severity of the damage, the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled the cause as “undetermined,” according to a press release. The fire happened at the Hilltop Inn & Studio 1 Extended Stay hotel, formerly the Clarion Inn, along E. Grafton Road.
Two investigators from the fire marshal’s office were at the scene on Wednesday and Thursday.
UPDATE (2/8/2023 6:11 p.m.):
Officials on the scene have told 12 News that no one was injured in the fire at the Clarion Inn just outside of Fairmont city limits on Wednesday.
According to Winfield’s Fire Chief, the fire, which was called in just before 1:30 p.m., started in the kitchen and spread to the roof. The building sustained major damage, and the American Red Cross will be helping people who were living at the hotel find other temporary living arrangements. The property owner also owns property in Pennsylvania where some residents may be able to stay.
The Winfield fire chief also said that no one was injured in the fire.
The E Grafton Rd. was temporarily closed while emergency personnel worked to extinguish the fire, but it has since been reopened, according to a reporter on the scene.
Crews from Marion, Harrison and Monongalia counties all responded.
ORIGINAL:
Multiple crews are responding to a fire at a hotel in Fairmont where flames climbed through the roof, and the response to the fire has led to an emergency road closure.
The Marion County 911 log says that a commercial structure fire was called in at 1:27 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 930 E Grafton Rd. in Fairmont.
The West Virginia Division of Highways announced Wednesday afternoon that Fire Department equipment was blocking the roadway near the intersection of West Virginia 310 and Stoney Ridge Road. The road has since been reopened.
12 News’ crew at the scene was told by one firefighter that the fire is burning in the roof, so crews needed to ventilate it. Doing so required all firefighters to exit the building, just in case the roof were to collapse.
The Marion County log said the Barrackville, Bunner Ridge, Fairview, Monongah, Rivesville, Valley, Winfield District, Worthington and Boothesville fire departments, and Fairmont station of the Marion County Rescue Squad responded, and additional agencies were called from surrounding counties, including Nutter Fort, Shinnston and Bridgeport.
Nutter Fort said on its official Facebook page that it is a third-alarm fire.
Stick with 12 News for breaking new updates.
