WV Fire Marshal to investigate peculiar circumstances
An early morning blaze has sent a Flatwoods man to the hospital with sever burns and destroyed a boat at Sutton Lake Marina’s dry storage area on Airport Road.
Neighbors close to the facility reported the incident after hearing an explosion and seeing flames coming from a boat at the facility. They also reported what was believed to be a second explosion. When the first fire fighters arrived from the Sutton Volunteer Fire Department that found David Brown, 60, on the ground outside the inferno suffering from sever burns to the arms and face. Authorities stated that Brown had a Flatwoods address.
Brown was taken to Braxton County Memorial Hospital by Braxton EMS for initial treatment before being life flighted to a Morgantown facility for more intense care. No word on his condition has been released.
Eight firefighters responded from the SVFD. They were assisted by six members of the Flatwoods Community Fire Department.
Officials report that someone had illegally tapped into a power source near the stored vessel which had reportedly been at the facility for some time. Marina officials stated that Brown had been discovered at the facility a few days earlier and had been asked to leave.
The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s office has been asked to assist the SVFD and the Sutton Detachment of the West Virgnia State Police with their ongoing investigation.
In addition to the boat which was not identified other than a large cabin cruiser, a motorcycle was destroyed, a nearby boat trailer was damaged. There was also structural damage to the Marina facility. No estimate of the loss was available at press time.