3 days Ago By by Jacob Martin STAFF WRITER
REEDSVILLE, W.Va. (WV News) — A large fire broke out on Dec.
13 at one of the older, historic barns at the Equine Center located on the J.W. Ruby Research, Education, and Outreach Center near Reedsville, officials said.
While the building sustained significant damage, no staff, animals, or students were injured, Director of Education Dr. Crystal Smith said. “We are grateful for the quick reaction of our first responders, including Reedsville, Cool Springs, Kingwood, Masontown, Newburg, and Triune-Halleck volunteer fire departments, as well as the Terra Alta Ambulance Squad,” Smith said.
In response to the fire, students quickly converted space in the multipurpose building at the farm to temporarily house the horses, she said. Additionally, a team of WVU Davis leaders, faculty, and others have been working with investigators, the insurance company, and others to assess immediate needs and determine a plan to rebuild, Smith said. “We do not expect the fire to have any effect on our events scheduled at the farm and remain committed to our partners who host events at the facility,” she said.
According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the fire was determined to be accidental. It originated from a piece of equipment parked outside the horse barn and resulted in an estimated $1 million in damage. Tyler Flesher, second lieutenant of the Reedsville Fire Department, was one of the first to arrive at the scene, county fire officials said.
The fire at the research farm was the largest fire the department responded to this year, Flesher said. Both the Reedsville and Cool Springs volunteer fire departments were the first to arrive and immediately began laying out handlines, he said. “Once we got inside, there was hay, bedding, and organic materials that were burning,” Flesher said, adding that those types of accelerants take longer to extinguish.
Older buildings, even if constructed with treated lumber, dry out over the years, making the wood burn quickly, he said. Additionally, the part of the barn that caught fire was used for hay storage. “Their first cutting or second cutting of hay was stored in that part of the building — that’s why it burnt so heavily,” Flesher said.
An excavator arrived to remove the roof and siding so firefighters could access the burning hay and extinguish the fire, he said. Overall, they were very fortunate to have the manpower and the time to put out the fire, Flesher said. Minutes are critical in a structure fire, he added.
If the report had come in a little later, “there would have been no saving any of it — we would have had to back up and act in a more defensive manner and attack it from the outside,” he said. From the outside, it appeared that only a third of the building was affected, but the fire and smoke caused damage throughout the structure, he said. “The whole top section of the building is open, with no walls or anything to break up the flames.
That fire, that smoke and heat rolled through the entire building and out both ends and all the eaves,” Flesher said. Most of the damage is due to smoke and heat, but about half of the building is considered unsafe to walk through after the fire, he said. In the aftermath, the J.
W. Ruby Research Farm is looking forward to rebuilding, officials said. “The support from our community – locally and beyond – has been amazing.
The monetary and in-kind donations are so appreciated,” Smith said. The farm still has the basic physical needs to continue its programming, activities, and animal care, she said. “Our vendors have been amazing in helping us with hay, grain, and bedding needs, as well as offering storage space until we can accept deliveries,” she said.
Currently, the farm is working on replacing daily care items for the horses, critical equipment, and other items needed for day-to-day functions, Smith said. For those interested in supporting the farm, officials said the best way to help is by making a tax-deductible gift to the Furnish and Finish Fund via the WVU Foundation. Funds will be used to purchase supplies, replenish equipment, and address building and renovation needs not covered by insurance.
To make a donation, visit give.wvu.edu .
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