Morning Journal/Steve Rappach Firefighters from six different departments battled billowing smoke as they extinguished a fire at a home on Brickyard Bend Road in New Cumberland, W.Va., on Thursday. The home was a total loss.

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — The cause of a Thursday afternoon fire that destroyed one Hancock County home and sent one woman to the hospital, remains unknown.

Firefighters from the New Cumberland and New Manchester departments were called first to the scene at 635 Brickyard Bend Road around 4:45 p.m. for a report of a house fire.

According to New Cumberland fire officials, the fire was fully involved upon arrival, and mutual aid for manpower and tankers was requested from surrounding communities, including Newell, Chester, Lawrenceville, and Oakland. More than a dozen firefighters fought the flames.

While there, firefighters broke through glass, opened doors and tore apart fences at the home as they attempted to get closer to the building. Crews worked for more than two hours to extinguish the flames, which had spread throughout the house and landed on a small area on the roof, while smoke — heavy at times — billowed from all sides.

A portable 2,100-gallon tank was set up not too far down the road so assisting fire crews could unload their tankers.

Firefighters were able to fully extinguish the fire, but the house was declared a total loss.

A woman who was living at the home was able to escape the fire, but after being checked by paramedics, she was flown by Stat Medevac to a Pittsburgh hospital. Her name and age were not available. A pet also was removed from the home, however, its condition is unknown at this time.

Paramedics from Hancock County Ambulance Service were on hand for assistance, while Hancock County sheriff’s office personnel directed traffic at Brickyard Bend Road.

srappach@reviewonline.com