Fire Marshal: Cause of fatal fire undetermined

NICHOLAS COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a deadly house fire.

It happened April 24 at a home on Deitz Road in the Mt. Lookout area of Nicholas County. Fire investigators said a 79-year-old woman died in the fire.

Firefighters say the fire broke out around 1 p.m. Monday.

A neighbor called 911 for help after she noticed the porch on fire.

Wilderness Volunteer Fire Department Chief Noah Allen said it’s heartbreaking knowing their community faced a tragic loss.

“It’s a gut-wrenching feeling knowing we’re on the outside fighting the fire and not being able to go into and help whoever may be trapped in the fire,” Allen said. “When an accident likes this happens, it hits our community hard.”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office said due to the damage to the home during the fire, the cause of the fire could not be determined.

The West Virginia Chief Medical Examiner’s office will perform an autopsy on the victim.

Investigators said smoke detectors were in the home, but it is not known if they were working. Crews from Summersville, Keslers, Cross Lanes, Nuttall, and Ansted fire departments provided mutual aid.

Copyright 2023 WSAZ. All rights reserved.