Star City Volunteer Fire Department

On April 5th @ 18:38 hrs Companies 20 (Star City), 17 (Granville) and 23 (Westover) were alerted for a structure fire at Chateau Royale Ct. After checking up on the radio units were advise that there was a pile of mulch on fire with extension to Building 4. While approaching Patterson Dr. and University Ave Engine 201 saw a large column of black smoke in the area. Engine 201 then advise to add Companies 12 (Brookhaven) and 14 (Cheat Lake) to the call. Engine 233 and 235 (Westover) were first on the scene, advised a working structure and began an aggressive offensive attack. E-201 arrived and 20-4 (Huber) established command. The fire had extended from the mulch to Building 4 and Building 5 was losing its siding due to the high heat conditions. A quick knockdown using (2) 1 1/2" lines keep the fire from spreading. Crews did primary and secondary searches in Building 4 and 5 and found all residents had evacuated. Apartments in building 4 had smoke inside but no extension. Extensive overhaul was performed using equipment and man power from all companies and the mulch was removed to the parking lot. Red Cross responded to the scene to help a few displaced students. Units cleared @ 20:50hrs. The cause of the fire was determined to be spontaneous combustion of the mulch.

    No one was injured Tuesday when a pile of mulch burst into flames, setting one building at Chateau Royale apartments on fire.
   John Huber, Star City Volunteer Fire Department captain, said the mulch, which had been sitting between two units �internally combusted� into flames.
   As the fire grew up one side, destroying much of the siding, the heat also scorched the siding on the adjacent building, he said.
   �There were reports that it had been smoldering,� he said about the mulch. �But it came out (reported) as a structure fire.�
   Mecca 911 received the call at 6:37 p.m., and firefighters from Westover, Star City and Granville volunteer fire departments responded to the apartments off Willowdale Road near Milan Puskar Stadium.
   Crews had the fire under control within minutes.
   Heather Johnson was asleep inside the apartment building that caught fire when a neighbor, Trista Hoosier, banged on her door to wake her up.
   �I live on the second floor, and when I woke up there was smoke inside,� Johnson said. �I didn�t know what was going on. I went out the front door and ran down the steps.�
   Hoosier lives in the adjacent building on the third floor. Both women are WVU students.
   �I was going out and saw the fire,� Hoosier said. �I ran to everybody�s place and they all got out OK.�
   The pile of mulch, which Huber estimated to be about 20 yards worth, was doused and later moved out onto the parking lot where it was checked again and removed.
   Chateau Royale houses about 1,000 residents, according to co-owner Cliff Sutherland.
   �We�re just happy that there�s not much damage and that everybody�s OK,� he said. �And I do want to thank the firefighters.�
   Becky Hoyt, with the Mountain Laurel Chapter of the American Red Cross, was on the scene to help anyone who might have been left without a place to stay �� but her services were not needed.