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The cause of a fast-moving fire that heavily damaged three structures at a property in the 200 block of Calvin Road in Cinebar Thursday afternoon is still under investigation, Lewis County Fire District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel said Friday.
The fire was first reported at 2:25 p.m. Thursday by area residents who heard explosions. McDaniel said the fire caused several small propane tanks to explode, making it more difficult for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.
“Those can be kind of a hazard,” he said. “They can explode and send shrapnel up to 150 feet.”
The fire started in a recreational vehicle in a large carport and moved to a garage. When fire crews arrived about five minutes after the initial call, the fire was starting to burn into the residence.
McDaniel said the fire moved very quickly.
Lewis County PUD crews were quickly on the scene to turn off power to the property, McDaniel said. Crews from Fire Districts 1, 3 and 8 had the bulk of the fire out in about a half hour and stayed on the scene until about 4:30 putting out hot spots.
The residence is a total loss, McDaniel said, but some of its contents were saved.
“I think we saved their keepsakes,” he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
