GLENWOOD — Fighters with the Valley Fire Department have been keeping busy this week in the southern end of the county, battling two structure fires in as many days.

Though both fires are still under investigation, at least one of the fires appears suspicious in nature.

Valley Fire Chief Elza Black said personnel from his department were called to the home of Ricky Pickens on Palestine Rd. on Thursday morning. The fire gutted the home, making it a total loss. No one was home at the time of the blaze, and there were no injuries.

Black said this fire appears suspicious in nature, and personnel with the office of West Virginia State Fire Marshal have been called to assist in the investigation. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, Black said he could give no other details about the fire at this time.

On Wednesday afternoon, Valley Fire Department personnel responded to a fire at a single-story home along W.Va. 2 in Glenwood, located across from the town’s gas station. Black said due to no available hydrants near the residence, firefighters were forced to use a portable pump to pump water from the Ohio River to help extinguish the fire which destroyed the home of Tammy Trippett and family. In order to get the water from the river to the home, W.Va. Route 2 was closed for a few hours but reopened shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Black said it appears the fire started at the back of the home, and at this time, appears like it could be related to an electrical short. Black said Trippett was picking up her child from school when the fire started. No one was injured but again, the home was a total loss. Firefighters from Ohio River Road Fire Department in Lesage also assisted the Valley Fire Department on this call.