Braxton County Fire Victims Identified

The three people who died recently in a house fire on Elk River Road in Sugar Creek have been identified. The family of the victims released the names of Charles, Cathy, and Thomas Veasey, and also confirmed that two other people were injured in the fire and taken to the West Penn Burn Center. A dog also perished in the fire.

All three Veasey family members were adults and ranged in age from 26 to 58.

The blaze began at 7:30 am and it took fire crews all day to extinguish the flames. The National Guard created warming stations for first responders dealing with the initial incident and its aftermath in frigid temperatures throughout the night.

No cause has been determined yet, but according to the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office, there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

Fire officials were forced to bring in an excavator to level the ground floor of the home. They later had to break through to the basement to ensure there were no more than three victims in the house.

In addition to the damage the fire caused to the Veasy home, there were also phone outages for people in the surrounding area, some of which lasted until the next day. Fire damage to power lines knocked out 911 services to about 1000 residents for a period of time.

Though no official cause for the fire has been released, fire officials took the opportunity to remind people to be careful with heating sources, including space heaters, and to check their smoke detectors.

Dealing with the Aftermath of Fire Damage

Any fire is devastating and becomes even more so when there are injuries or loss of life. In addition to the loss of your home and all of your belongings, you might also face a long recovery and/or be forced to deal with grief.

Nothing can eliminate your emotional or physical pain, but getting the support and guidance you need during this difficult time can make things easier. The last thing you need is to worry about insurance claims or any of the financial burdens brought on by a devastating fire.

Our team understands the days, weeks, and months after a fire are some of the toughest anyone can face. We want to ease your burden and allow you to focus on what matters most.

For more information or to speak to someone about injuries sustained in a fire, contact Heavens Law at 888.897.5377.