Shelter-in-Place Ordered in Marshall County After Large Fire; Route 2 Closed Near Moundsville

Folks in Marshall County, please stay inside and stay safe this afternoon. Emergency management officials have ordered residents in parts of the county to shelter in place on Sunday, Nov. 8, after a large structure fire near Moundsville.

According to Marshall County Emergency Management, the shelter-in-place order covers the Washington Lands and Roberts Ridge areas, including Lower Round Bottom, Lindsay Lane, and Clearview Heights. Officials said the order is in effect indefinitely, meaning there is no set end time yet. Residents in those neighborhoods should plan on staying put until county officials say it is safe.

What to do if you live in the area

Marshall County Emergency Management is asking people in the affected area to take precautions right away. In the agency's words: "Close all windows and doors and shut off any air intakes."

In practical terms, that means keeping the outside air out of your home. Shut off fans, furnaces, or HVAC systems that pull in air from outdoors, keep pets inside, and avoid going outside unless it is truly necessary. If you have neighbors who are elderly, live alone, or may not have seen the alert, a quick phone call or text could make a real difference.

Route 2 closed near Moundsville

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office announced around noon Sunday that both directions of W.Va. Route 2 near Moundsville were closed because of the fire's impacts. Drivers traveling the Ohio River corridor should avoid the area, expect delays, and use alternate routes. Please give firefighters, deputies, and emergency crews plenty of room to work.

What we don't know yet

Officials had not released details on what caused the fire, what type of building is involved, or whether anyone was hurt as of Sunday afternoon. We will not guess. West Virginia Pulse will update this story as Marshall County Emergency Management and the sheriff's office share more information, including when the shelter-in-place order is lifted and when Route 2 reopens.

For now, the best thing anyone can do is follow official instructions, stay off the roads near the scene, and keep an eye on alerts from Marshall County Emergency Management and the Marshall County Sheriff's Office. Our thoughts are with the firefighters and first responders working this one, and with every family waiting it out at home. Take care of each other, Marshall County.