Dec. 14--CLARKSBURG -- Firefighters from several different agencies are battling a fire at a ranch in Clarksburg. The flames were visible for miles as several buildings were consumed and destroyed. A dozen people and more than one family- the ranch owners' and hands' -- are without a home as a result.
"Big flames, pretty hot, smoke... it was pretty bad," said Jonathon Lizarde, a friend and neighbor of those who were burned-out.
Lizarde said the fire was bad enough but then something in the fire, perhaps a small fuel tank or aerosol bottle, exploded.
"I was nervous- kind of scared because of my friend and my family right here," Lizarde said.
Once fire fighters arrived, they needed water. There wasn't enough for a fire of that size, so they hooked a pump up to an above ground pool on the property.
"Rural fire departments have to find water ion unusual places," said Richard Bagby, Assistant Chief of the Clarksburg Fire Department.
Fire fighters said it's something of a miracle that most of the main house was left standing -- although heavily damaged by flame, smoke and water. A member of the family who lived there told Fox40 that they believe a child set the fire by accident.
The fire investigators have yet to name an official cause.
The Red Cross was on scene to offer those displaced by the blaze a temporary home.
