MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. – Elected officials representing Moundsville at the state level visited the scene on Jefferson Avenue this weekend to assess the aftermath of a massive fire that destroyed half a city block.
The catastrophic blaze, which erupted Friday morning at approximately 9:40 a.m., razed the former Remke Furniture building along with several adjacent structures, leaving behind a trail of debris and a community in mourning.
Moundsville Fire Department Chief Gary Brandon described the building as a total loss by Friday night.
A massive response effort saw 20 agencies, including local fire and police departments, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, join forces to battle the flames. Officials say around 3 million gallons of water were deployed—from the city water system and a specialized tanker task force drawing from the Ohio River—to contain the inferno.
While no injuries were reported, community members and city officials are now turning their focus to recovery. City crews commenced debris removal on Monday morning as the Moundsville Public Works and Street Department cleaned up Jefferson Avenue, working to clear the remnants of the disaster.
As the community comes to grips with the loss, state and local authorities are also evaluating potential means of assistance, such as federal grants, to support those affected by the incident.
Due to extensive damage and insufficient evidence, the state fire marshal has classified the fire’s origin as undetermined.
