MORGANTOWN — An apparent explosion in a trailer on McCartney Avenue, off Mileground Road, sent a man to the hospital and sent three volunteer fire departments scrambling Tuesday afternoon.
“I was getting ready for work, and I heard a loud boom,” said neighbor Shane Dunlap. “Like a bomb going off.”
Dunlap said he left his house and saw the trailer, at 1201 McCartney Ave., on fire and his neighbor leaving it, so he ran over and grabbed him. Dunlap said he’s lived next to him for about two years but does not know his name.
He said the trailer resident told him he smelled gas and lit a match.
Dunlap then called 911, he said. MECCA 911 received the call at 4:56 p.m.
The man was taken to the hospital with injuries to the right side of his face and hand. His clothes were not burned off.
The trailer was fully engulfed when Star City Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene. Firefighters were able to control the blaze, and it did not spread. At 5:45 p.m., the fire was largely under control.
By 6 p.m., fire crews were looking for hotspots, according to emergency radio traffic.
Brookhaven VFD, Cheat Lake VFD, Mon Health EMS and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the fire.
