Wheeling, WV, Chief's Home Burns, Wife Sustains Burn Injuries

A weekend house fire destroyed the home of Wheeling's assistant fire chief and left his wife in the hospital with burn injuries. 

Officials called Assistant Chief Eric Cianelli’s home a “total loss” after the fire.

“She (Christy Cianelli) discovered the fire and was attempting to extinguish it,” Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier told The Intelligencer. “She inadvertently got some burns during that process.”

Christy was transported to a burn center in Pittsburgh where she is recovering from her injuries, Blazier said. 

The fire was in the protection area of the Stone Church Volunteer Fire Department, who called for assistance from firefighter from the Bethlehem and Valley Grove fire departments. Wheeling firefighters were also called to the fire scene.

Crews were able to salvage some items from the home.

All his life, he’s been on our side of the fence, as far as going out and helping people having these situations,” said Blazier. “Unfortunately, now that he’s on the other side of the fence, I think he’s kind of overwhelmed with the fact that his wife is injured, they’ve lost most of their belongings and they don’t have a place to live. Everybody’s trying to do what they can to support him and get him moving in the right direction.”

Blazier said a retired firefighter opened up a home to the family as they begin to recover from the fire, adding that the local first responder community has been "awesome" with their support of Cianelli and his family.

Investigators determined the fire was accidential but have not shared the cause of the fire.