February 26, 1987 — According to Luray Fire Chief Dan Seal, a blaze started shortly after 2 p.m., when Ronnie Stoneberger, the owner of the house in South Fort Subdivision, east of Luray, poured flammable chainsaw fuel into a hot stove containing ashes. In the resulting explosion, Stoneberger sustained first, second and third degree burns to his hands and first degree burns to his face.
Seal said the fire consumed a stairwell and Stoneberger had to break a window and jump 15 feet to safety. Stoneberger, his hands cut and burned, drove his truck 3/4 of a mile to Luray Copy Service to call the fire department. Seal said Stoneberger spent “a couple of days” at Page Memorial Hospital and currently is recuperating elsewhere.
The basement and stairwell sustained heavy fire damage and most of the house sustained smoke damage. Seal estimated the damage at $15,000 to $20,000. Eighteen firemen using four trucks battled the blaze for an hour.
Be the first to comment