Published: August 19, 2008 12:37 pm         

Keyser arson suspect identified by camera

8 left homeless as result of second blaze

KEYSER, W.Va. — The arrest of a Keyser man in connection with a fire that destroyed the Railsyde Inn on Armstrong Street was due in part to an outdoor camera that showed the suspect at the scene just prior to the fire.

Franklin Lee McDaniel, 52, was charged with arson in the first degree and causing injury during arson, which apparently stemmed from injury to a firefighter during the fire operation Monday.

McDaniel was arrested early Tuesday following investigation by Keyser City Police Patrolman Chris Paitsel with assistance of the Keyser Volunteer Fire Department and consultation with the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office.

“The suspect was developed as a person of interest following the initial fire Monday morning. Subsequently I received a videotape from a business in the area of the Railsyde Tavern that showed the suspect walking to the rear of the tavern just before the fire,” said Paitsel.

McDaniel was picked up for questioning at 11:52 p.m. Monday, less than a half-hour after a second fire broke out at the Railsyde Tavern. The blaze destroyed the building, a loss estimated by the Keyser Volunteer Fire Company at up to a half-million dollars. Eight people were left homeless as a result of the second fire.

Following questioning and interviews, McDaniel was arrested and charged with setting fire to the Railsyde Tavern.

McDaniel remained jailed Tuesday afternoon at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Augusta on $85,000 bond set by Mineral County Magistrate Sue Roby during an arraignment hearing.

Approximately 60 volunteer firefighters responded to the 11:26 p.m. alert sounded by the Mineral County Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security after a rekindle was reported at the tavern building at 53 Armstrong St. in numerous 911 calls to the emergency center.

“Flames were shooting 40 feet in the air when we got there,” said Assistant Chief Mike Simpson of the Keyser Volunteer Fire Company.

“The firefighters did a heck of a job putting a stop on it, otherwise we could have lost the entire block,” he said.

Simpson said that two families totaling eight people were displaced from their apartments. “They had just gotten back in and then had to flee to safety again,” said Simpson.

The victims, whose names were not available, were provided immediate assistance by the American Red Cross and are now reportedly staying with relatives and friends.

Simpson estimated the property loss at $450,000 to $500,000. The first fire caused damage that was estimated at $45,000. The building is owned by Michael Burris and Jerry Friel. Minor damage was also reported to the adjacent Good As New business.

Firefighters were first dispatched to the Railsyde Tavern on Monday at about 7:38 a.m., when a fire was discovered in an exterior wall at the rear of the structure.

Investigation by the Keyser Fire Department determined the fire was suspicious. The West Virginia State Fire Marshal was notified of the incident to assist in the investigation.

Simpson said two firefighters sustained ankle injuries during the fire operation.

Companies responding to the incident in addition to Keyser included Piedmont, McCoole, Westernport, New Creek, Fountain and Burlington in addition to Keyser Emergency Medical Services. Romney Volunteer Fire Company stood by at Burlington’s station.

Firefighters were called back to the scene at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday when the smoldering embers rekindled. Units were on the scene for more than an hour. It was the third response of Keyser and allied firefighters to that location within 30 hours.