CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Four people have died in separate house fires and an explosion across West Virginia over the weekend, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Investigations into the causes of the incidents are ongoing.
The first fatal fire occurred Saturday afternoon in Prosperity, Raleigh County.
A 77-year-old woman died when a fire broke out at a home on Vireo Lane.
Due to extensive damage, investigators have been unable to determine the cause.
On Sunday around 3 p.m., an explosion destroyed a home on Kramer Drive in Clarksburg, Harrison County. A male resident was rescued and taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The explosion forced the evacuation of a five-block radius.
The Clarksburg Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause.
Later that evening, a fire outside of Parkersburg claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman.
The blaze, which started around 6:30 p.m. on Hill Street, is believed to be accidental, though the exact cause remains undetermined.
The fourth fatal incident occurred Monday morning in the Prenter area of Boone County.
A fire broke out at a home on Prenter Road in Seth around 6:45 a.m. The victim’s identity has not yet been released as investigators continue their work at the scene.
All victims have been transported to the West Virginia State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and autopsy.