WILEY FORD, W.Va. — An apparent accidental fire destroyed a mobile home on alternate state Route 28 early Monday afternoon, leaving two people homeless.

No one was present when the fire occurred at the Shumaker residence at about 2:35 p.m., according to Wiley Ford Volunteer Fire Company firefighter Terry Ashenfelter.

Investigation revealed the fire was accidental and caused by an apparent malfunction of an oil furnace.

The mobile home and its contents were destroyed, resulting in a loss estimated at $20,000 or more.

The occupants, whose names were not provided, were reportedly staying with relatives and were being provided immediate assistance by a local church.

Mineral and Allegany county emergency centers dispatched units to the scene at about 2:35 p.m., including ambulances to stand by during the fire operation.

Wiley Ford, Ridgeley, Short Gap, Patterson Creek and District 16 companies responded and began clearing the scene at about 3:40 p.m., according to the Mineral County Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security/911.

In another report, firefighters checked a report of smoke in a residence in the 15000 block of Brandywine Drive in the Bel Air subdivision at about 1:30 p.m.

An overheated light ballast created the smoke. Cresaptown, Bowling Green and LaVale volunteer fire companies were there a short while.