LAFFERTY - A house at 42789 Harrah Street in Lafferty was destroyed by fire on Wednesday. No one was home at the time of the fire, but it was reported that two Pomeranian dogs inside the house died of smoke inhalation.
The fire was discovered when a fire fighter drove by, saw the structure burning and called it in. The call came into Belmont County 911 at 9:21 a.m. One person said smoke was pouring out of the roof.
When firefighters arrived, there were flames coming out the front window and also the front door, according to Chief Larry Zalesny of the Lafferty Fire Department. He said that within minutes after firefighters were on the scene, the fire came through the roof, and it was impossible to make entry.
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A house on Harrah Street in Lafferty was “fully engulfed” by the time the Lafferty Fire Department arrived on the scene, according to Chief Larry Zalesny. Firefighters from Flushing and Belmont also responded to the call, as did the Belmont County Tanker Task Force with companies from Morristown, Cumberland Trail, Piedmont, Somerton, Sunset Heights and Moundsville, W.Va. “This is our eighth structure fire in two months,” said Chief Zalesny. “It’s been our worst year ever.”
The homeowners, Connie and Greg McCort, were not at home. When they arrived on scene, they were comforted by friends and family.
The house is approximately one block away from St. Mary's Church which burned down about a month ago.
The Salvation Army Canteen was also at the scene providing liquids to the firefighters.
The house is considered a total loss.
