A Wallace home was destroyed Friday fire. The home belonged to Shanna Loy and her family, who were fortunately all safe from the incident.

Several fire departments arrived at the blazing home on Big Elk Road around 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 11 and spent roughly five hours extinguishing the fire. Wallace fire fighter Roger Luchuck said the freezing weather conditions and structure of the two-story home made it all the more difficult to put out the flames.

Jimmy Glasscock II of the Folsom Fire Department said many fire fighters had to return for a few hours around 4:50 a.m. the following morning to revisit hot spots still kindling on the residence.

The Wallace, Folsom, Lumberport, Shinnston, Spelter, and Worthington Volunteer Fire Departments all responded to the call and worked together to put out the fire. The Harrison County EMS was also called in for precaution.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Fortunately, the home was insured. The American Red Cross has been notified of the incident for assistance and a money container is in place at Quinet’s Court Restaurant, where Shanna Loy is employed, for donations from the community.

—

A Littleton man remains in the burn unit at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh after an early morning fire demolished his home Dec. 9. Alvin Cecil, girlfriend Thersea Craft, and daughter Leah Adams were home when the blaze began with a wood stove. Fourteen-year-old Adams was asleep on the couch when the family’s German Shepherd was banging against the room’s door, creating enough noise to awaken her. As soon as she woke up, she realized the situation. Cecil and Craft also awakened and exited the home’s front door while Adams went out the back door.

Not knowing his daughter had reached safety, Cecil re-entered the home to rescue his daughter. While inside the structure the ceiling fell on him and he had to jump out of a first-floor window to exit the building.

Cecil has burns on 80 percent of his body; 30 percent are third-degree burns.

Unfortunately the family did not have home insurance and Cecil does not have health insurance, so the family is in need of help. Monetary donations are being accepted at Union Bank in Hundred. Anyone wanting to donated items such as clothing and goods to help them make their home again can take it to Patty Parrish’s home.