Company Issues Statement On Wood County Warehouse Fire

A fire in a Wood County industrial storage facility prompted Gov. Patrick Morrisey Sunday to declare a State of Emergency. Firefighters battled the blaze at the Peoples Cartage warehouse on Camden Avenue in Parkersburg.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Updated on Monday, July 6, 2026 at 11 a.m.  

A statement on the incident from Total Distribution, Inc. has been posted to the company’s Facebook page:

“On Saturday, July 4, 2026, a fire occurred at our Camden Avenue facility in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by our fire suppression systems and the local fire department, and a stringent fire watch was maintained throughout the day and overnight.  

“Unfortunately, on Sunday, July 5, 2026, the fire reignited, resulting in significant damage — the full extent of which has not yet been assessed. 

“Most importantly, at this time, we are grateful to report that no injuries have been sustained by any employees or other individuals on site. 

“We are cooperating fully with the local fire department and the appropriate authorities, and we will not speculate on the cause of the fire while that investigation is ongoing. We are in direct communication with those affected by this event and are committed to keeping them informed as the situation develops. 

“The safety of our employees, our customers, our neighbors, and our community is our highest priority. We take that responsibility seriously and are committed to handling this matter with full transparency.”

— Doug Sibila, CEO, Darin Haines, President, Joseph DeVirgilio, Senior Director – Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance 

Original Story

A fire in a Wood County industrial storage facility prompted Gov. Patrick Morrisey Sunday to declare a State of Emergency.

Firefighters battled the blaze at the Peoples Cartage warehouse on Camden Avenue in Parkersburg.

The declaration authorizes state agencies to provide all available resources necessary to support local response efforts.

“Protecting the people of Wood County and supporting the brave first responders on the scene are our top priorities,” Morrisey said. “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.”

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has deployed personnel from its Environmental Enforcement and Homeland Security and Emergency Response (HSER) divisions to the scene. Environmental officials are evaluating any potential impacts from firefighting runoff into the nearby Little Kanawha River.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

DEP personnel continue conducting air quality monitoring around the incident using portable monitors and have yet to detect any air quality readings requiring additional protective actions.

The state has requested assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has deployed additional air monitoring equipment.

“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.”

State agencies will continue monitoring conditions and providing support to local responders. Officials say updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.

Residents are encouraged to follow guidance from local emergency officials and avoid the area while firefighting operations continue.