NEW CUMBERLAND - An early morning fire Tuesday left two houses in New Cumberland burnt to the ground. No injuries were reported, as both structures were uninhabited.
As for the cause of the fire, "We're almost sure it was arson," said New Cumberland Police Chief Lester Skinner, adding there were no utilities turned on in either house. "There would be no other way for it to start."
Skinner said that while both houses were abandoned, one was being used to store belongings of the property owner.
Officials from the New Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department said they were called out to 403 and 405 South Chestnut Street at about 6 a.m. and had the fire under control by 8 a.m.
The fire began at one of the houses and, since the structures were side by side, spread to the other and burned both to the ground. The only structure left standing on either property was a garage.
The New Manchester Volunteer Fire Department was called in to assist. The Newell Volunteer Fire Department was called in to stand by for New Manchester and Colliers was called in for New Cumberland.
In addition to the New Cumberland Police Department, the West Virginia Fire Marshall's Office was on scene to investigate the fire.
The scene was cleared shortly after 1 p.m.
The NCVFD thanked Ren's Drive-Thru in New Cumberland for donating pop and water to firefighters at the scene.
An investigation is underway by the New Cumberland Police Department and the Hancock County Sheriff's Office to determine who may have started the fire. No further information was available.
