10/17/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2025
Major Structure Fire in Downtown Webster Springs — Building Demolished as Emergency Safety Measure
Webster Springs, WV — On Thursday, October 16, 2025, at approximately 9:35 a.m., the Webster County 911 Center received a report of a structure fire at the Old Hotel Restaurant, located at 68 Main Street in downtown Webster Springs.
Initial units from Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Cowen VFD, and Webster Memorial EMS were dispatched. The first arriving unit at 9:40 a.m. reported heavy smoke and flames showing from a first-floor window of the structure.
Firefighters made an immediate interior attack and were able to quickly extinguish the fire in the original room of origin. However, due to the age of the building, its construction type, and the heavy contents stored inside, the fire had already spread into the walls and second story. As interior conditions rapidly deteriorated, the Incident Commander ordered an evacuation, and crews transitioned to defensive exterior operations for safety.
While responding to the scene, one Cowen VFD unit experienced a mechanical failure and was involved in a crash at 10:08 a.m. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in that incident.
As the fire continued to spread through concealed spaces, mutual aid was requested from several surrounding departments, including Diana VFD, Hacker Valley VFD, Erbacon VFD, and Craigsville VFD, which provided a ladder truck. The Webster County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, and West Virginia Division of Highways assisted with implementing traffic control and rerouting as WV Route 15 (Main Street) was closed for an extended period.
To ensure continuous fire and EMS coverage throughout the county, out-of-county departments were called to stage and cover response areas:
· Richwood VFD responded to the scene with specialized large-diameter hose tools.
· Summersville VFD covered the southern portion from Craigsville.
· Valley Head VFD staffed the Webster Springs station.
· Sutton VFD and Flatwoods VFD were moved to Diana to cover the northern portion of the county.
After consultation between Incident Command, the Mayor of Webster Springs, and the Webster County Office of Emergency Management, it was determined that the structure posed an immediate hazard to adjacent buildings and public safety. As an emergency protective measure, heavy equipment was requested to safely demolish the structure and fully extinguish the fire.
At 2:49 p.m., crews from Cogar Right-of-Way and Gil’s Construction arrived with excavators to assist in the demolition. The building was completely brought down, and the fire was fully extinguished. The final fire units cleared the scene at 7:45 p.m.
According to WV American Water, approximately 480,000 gallons of water were used from two hydrants, in addition to several thousand gallons drafted from the Elk River, which presented challenges due to low water levels.
The Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who assisted during this extensive operation. Special thanks go to:
· The Webster County 911 Center for their outstanding coordination and professionalism in managing multiple incidents simultaneously, including the fire, motor vehicle crash, EMS transports, and an EMS helicopter landing zone.
· All responding fire departments and EMS personnel for their teamwork and dedication.
· WSVFD Ladies Auxillary, local citizens, businesses, and volunteers who provided food, drinks, and support to first responders throughout the day.
“This was a difficult and emotional incident for our community,” said the Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department in a statement. “The cooperation and hard work shown by all agencies, volunteers, and citizens is a testament to the strength of Webster County.”
