PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WCHS) — UPDATED – 5:49 p.m., 7/5/26
Gov. Patrick Morrisey has declared a state of emergency for Wood County as crews continue to attempt to contain a massive warehouse fire in Parkersburg.
According to a press release from Morrisey’s office, the declaration allows state agencies to provide all available resources necessary to support local response efforts, protect public safety and respond to potential environmental impacts.
The move comes as a fire continues to rage through the Peoples Cartage, Inc warehouse. The fire reportedly started Saturday, but rekindled in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“Protecting the people of Wood County and supporting the brave first responders on the scene are our top priorities,” Morrisey said in the release. “This State of Emergency ensures every available state resource is ready to assist local officials for as long as necessary while we continue monitoring conditions and protecting nearby communities.”
Morrisey has been at the scene for a good portion of Sunday afternoon, along with several emergency crews and agencies, including the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, which Morrisey’s office said is conducting air quality monitoring around the incident. Morrisey’s office said the DEP requested and received additional air monitoring support from the Environmental Protection Agency.
“People should know that we are taking this incident seriously and approaching it with an abundance of caution,” Morrisey said. “I appreciate the extraordinary work of our firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel and environmental teams. We will continue supporting them until this fire is extinguished and the community is safe.”
Additionally, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office established a secure perimeter around the warehouse that bans all non-authorized personnel and non-first responders from entering the area.
The Wood County Sheriff’s Office established a perimeter in which only first responders and authorized personnel are allowed to enter. (Wood County Sheriff’s Office)
The boundaries are from Elder Street down to the Little Kanawha River, from Elder Street moving down Camden Street to Murray Lane and along the Little Kanawha River between Elder Street and Murray Lane, according to deputies.
UPDATED – 3:58 p.m., 7/5/26
Crews are continuing to battle a massive warehouse fire in Parkersburg that dispatchers are describing as a chemical fire.
According to Wood County 911, the Peoples Cartage, Inc warehouse is full of plastics, and crews are working to contain the fire to just the building itself.
More than 100 local, town, city, county and state personnel are at the scene, including Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
“This is an evolving situation,” Morrisey told WCHS at the scene. “I came up a few hours ago. I just want to make sure that the many dozens of agencies that are here, they know that the state is gonna have the back of all those hard-working first responders, folks from the fire departments. People are coming from hours away to help.”
Morrisey said the Environmental Protection Agency is on the way to assess the situation, and he has activated the West Virginia Fire Marshal, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Homeland Security and Emergency Management to help with efforts on the ground with locals.
“Right now the focus is on trying to control, and ultimately put the fire out and assess what’s coming out of there,” Morrisey said.
Dispatchers with Wood County 911 said there were workers inside the building while it was on fire, but were evacuated. No injuries have officially been reported, according to dispatchers.
There are currently no active evacuation orders for nearby businesses or homes. The public is encouraged to remain away from the area to allow crews to continue working on the fire.
Wood County Emergency Management has established a command center on the scene.
Dispatchers said traffic along Route 95 has been affected, but is not closed. Wood County officials previously said multiple roads in the area, including Camden Avenue and Rayon Drive are currently closed.
Several crews are on scene Sunday of a massive commercial structure fire in Parkersburg.
All fire departments in Wood County are at the Peoples Cartage, Inc warehouse on the south side of Parkersburg for the blaze, according to the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
Significant smoke could be seen from a long distance. The fire reportedly started Saturday morning and rekindled on Sunday.
Wood County officials said multiple roads in the area, including Camden Avenue and Rayon Drive are currently closed.
According to his social media, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is on scene. Morrisey said over two dozen agencies are on scene managing the situation.
The Salvation Army is also on hand to provide water, food and additional support to emergency response crews.
This story will be updated as more details become available.
