PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A massive fire continues to burn through a commercial warehouse in Parkersburg, prompting Gov. Patrick Morrisey to declare a state of emergency for Wood County on Sunday.
The blaze at the People’s Cartage, Inc. warehouse on Camden Avenue first broke out Saturday morning, close to 11 a.m. Crews initially got the flames under control using the local fire department along with the building’s own fire suppression systems.
A fire watch was kept in place overnight, but the fire came back to life early Sunday morning and quickly spread through the rest of the structure.
Wood County Commissioner David Blair Couch said the warehouse was being used to store materials belonging to outside companies. He noted that a large number of agencies, roughly two dozen by his count, have been pouring water on the fire around the clock, though incoming weather could complicate efforts. Based on conversations with responders, Couch said the fire could take a week or more to fully extinguish.
Dispatchers with Wood County 911 described it as a chemical fire, since the warehouse reportedly held plastics. Workers who were inside the building when the fire broke out were safely evacuated, and officials have confirmed there are no injuries among employees or bystanders.
State of Emergency Declared as Crews Respond
Morrisey visited the scene Sunday afternoon before issuing the emergency declaration, which frees up state resources to support the ongoing response. In a statement, he said protecting Wood County residents and backing up first responders remain the top priorities, adding that the declaration keeps every available state resource ready for as long as it’s needed.
The response effort includes several units from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, which has been monitoring air quality near the site. Officials say testing so far has not shown a need for further action, though monitoring will continue. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has also sent additional equipment to help track conditions.
The Wood County Sheriff’s Office has set up a secure perimeter around the affected area, running from Elder Street down to the Little Kanawha River and along Camden Street to Murray Lane, restricting entry to first responders and authorized personnel only. Multiple roads near the warehouse, including Camden Avenue and Rayon Drive, remain closed.
Investigators, including the West Virginia Fire Marshal’s office, have not yet determined what caused the fire. The American Red Cross and United Way are on standby to open shelters if the situation calls for it, though officials don’t currently expect that to be necessary. Wood County officials are asking anyone wishing to help to drop off bottled water at local fire stations for crews still battling the blaze.
