Fire damages Claysville nursing home
Area firefighters work at the scene of a secondary fire Thursday at Mama’s House on Elm Street in Claysville. The nursing home originally caught on fire Wednesday night because of an electrical problem. As firefighters went through the house Thursday morning, they found another hot spot.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Area firemen work at the scene of a secondary fire Thursday at Mama's House on Elm Street in Claysville. The nursing home originally caught fire on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. as a result of electrical problems. As firemen went through the house Thursday morning, they found another hot spot.
CLAYSVILLE – It must have been deja vu for Claysville fire Chief Dave Hilderbrand when he and other firefighters saw smoke billowing from the upper floor and attic at Mama’s House at 142 Elm St. Wednesday night.
Twenty months ago, Hilderbrand could see the flames shooting out of Bethel Personal Care Home when he pulled up at the fire station just two blocks away.
The March 2011 fire gutted the care home, which once stood on property adjacent to Mama’s House and housed 16 elderly veterans. The residents of Mama’s House also were evacuated during that fire. Both buildings were owned by Joyce Ewing.
The 17 men and women who now live at Mama’s House were out of the building when firefighters from Claysville and surrounding communities arrived after getting the call about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday
“The fire started in between the second floor ceiling and attic,” Hilderbrand said.
Hilderbrand and Trooper Steven Thompson, a state police fire marshal, were at the scene about 10 a.m. Thursday when they saw smoke coming out of the building.
“There was a hot spot inside the wall,” Thompson said. “That area was so well insulated the fire was hidden. There was some faint smoke, and when they opened up the wall, they found the fire. It isn’t unusual in these types of fires.”
Thompson determined both fires were electrical in origin and ruled both accidental.
Much of the damage to the building was caused by smoke. Firefighters had to open up the second-floor ceiling and floor of the attic to reach the fire.
The residents are being put up at other nursing homes owned by Ewing until repairs can be made to the building. Hilderbrand said no one was injured and there were no issues in fighting the fire.
Assisting at the fire Wednesday night were crews from West Alexander, Taylorstown and South Franklin Township. Because of a shortage of manpower during the day, those departments were also called Thursday morning, in addition to firefighters from North Franklin and Canton townships.
Also at the scene was Washington County’s Department of Public Safety and Ambulance and Chair.