Several families across the Ohio Valley are coping with the loss of their homes after fires during a stretch of bitter cold weather.
In Belmont County, a house fire several miles outside Powhatan Point on Cats Run destroyed the home of the Donald Swegard family. Fire crews had to break through ice on a nearby creek to access water while battling the blaze. Despite their efforts, the fire consumed the home, which later collapsed into its foundation. No injuries were reported.
In Jefferson County, another fire destroyed a home near Amsterdam along State Route 164. Crews were called to the scene around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and found the house fully engulfed when they arrived. No one was injured, but two family pets died in the fire.
