FIVE FIRE departments and the Belmont County Tanker Task Force battled a blaze which destroyed two houses Sunday in Rayland, and help for the four fire victims was forthcoming while firefighters were still on the scene.
Rayland Mayor Tammy Morelli, who is a member of the Tiltonsville Volunteer Fire Department, said the four occupants of the destroyed duplex on Main Street lost everything, and efforts are under way to try to get a collection of money, clothes and "anything they need."
Among the earliest donors were members of the Tiltonsville United Methodist Church where a collection of money was taken during the Sunday morning service while the firefighting still was under way in Rayland.
Morelli said the Red Cross was at the scene, and the Salvation Army is going to provide help.
The occupants of the duplex were able to leave their home without injury. The blaze began around 3:30 a.m. in an abandoned house and spread to the neighboring duplex, occupied by two people on each side.
Lt. Mary Doughty of the Rayland Volunteer Fire Department said fire departments from Rayland, Tiltonsville, Yorkville, Dillonvale and Martins Ferry helped to fight the flames, and water was transported to the scene by the Belmont County Tanker Task Force.
Doughty said checking will be done about the low water pressure, which was a problem for the firefighters.
Referring to the low pressure, Mayor Morelli said, "We're going to be looking into that."
Morelli added Rayland officials intend to check with officials from Tiltonsville, which supplies water to Rayland. Plans are to do some hydrant testing, and she said it isn't known if it is a hydrant or pressure problem.
A representative from the state fire marshal's office was on the scene to check about the cause of the fire, according to Doughty, whose husband is Fire Chief Jim Doughty. As of this morning, a report hadn't been received from the fire marshal's office.
She also said the blaze began in a bedroom on the top floor of the abandoned house, which has been vacant for years. The destroyed houses both were two-story and wood frame.
The fire "was fully engulfed when the department arrived," Doughty said.
Two firefighters sustained injuries during the fire. Morelli suffered a shoulder injury, and Emily Beck sustained a burn, according to Doughty. Dillonvale Emergency Medical Services transported Morelli to East Ohio Regional Hospital at Martins Ferry where she was treated and released.
Firefighters were on the scene until after 1 p.m. Doughty added, "It was a long night."
Pokas can be reached at timesleader@timesleaderonline.com.
