Published: March 04, 2009 11:57 pm      

Fire destroys historic Mineral home

Chief believes design of 1880 structure may have allowed Burlington blaze to spread

BURLINGTON, W.Va. — A crack in the flue of a 129-year-old Burlington home was likely the cause of a fire that destroyed it Wednesday afternoon, leaving a Mineral County couple homeless, according to fire officials.

No one was seriously injured in the blaze on Patterson Creek Road, reported just after noon, according to the Mineral County Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security. Several firefighters on the scene suffered minor burns, but were reportedly treated at the scene.

The two-story white house, located about a quarter-mile south of U.S. Route 50, was owned by Robert and Shirley Cleaver. Suspecting there was a flue fire in the attic, Robert Cleaver climbed a ladder and discovered the blaze, at which point he notified authorities and the couple safely left the home, Burlington Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Henderson said.

Constructed in 1880, the property is situated across from the Burlington Elementary School and next door to Burlington Union Church. A window of the church sustained minor damages and students attending school had to board their buses down the road from the scene of the fire.

Henderson said the house was “a total loss” and estimated damges at around $100,000.

He said the fire was likely started by a cracked flue and the design of the house itself caused the fire to spread into the attic.

Red Cross responded to provide relief to the Cleavers, who are staying with family.

Firefighters remained at the scene for more than seven hours, putting out hot spots, Henderson said.

In addition to Burlington, volunteers from New Creek, Fountain, Elk Garden, Romney, Keyser, Springfield, Augusta, Levels and Fort Ashby responded.

Ambulance units from Bur-lington and Keyser were also on scene, as were representatives from the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department, the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the fire marshal’s office and the Divison of Highways.

Traffic was rerouted on Patterson Creek Road and U.S. 50 during the firefighting operation.