Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 14, 1992                   TAG: 9203140266
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Southwest Bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

HOUSE BURNS, FIREFIGHTER HURT IN WYTHEVILLE

A Wytheville firefighter, Ronnie King, fell through the first floor to the basement and broke two ribs while fighting the blaze. He was taken by the Wythe County Rescue Squad to a hospital where he was treated and released.

He hit a wheelbarrow in the basement when he broke through the floor. He said it was a strange feeling to be walking on seemingly solid flooring and then have it disappear.

The home belonged to Barry and Edith Delby. Nobody was home when the fire was spotted by employees at the neighboring Jefferson National Forest office.

The employees pounded at the door and circled the house, only to see a window burst in the rear and fire on both first and second floors. Wytheville Public Safety Director Albert Newberry said the largely wooden home was a total loss.

The cause of the fire was not known.