BELLAIRE — Two people escaped the flames of house fires that took place Friday evening in Bellaire.

The fire started at a house on Washington Street and spread to another house and .

Two people were in one of the houses that caught on fire but managed to escape. However, one woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, according to Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Bell.

The two people who escaped the blaze are now safe and well, Bell said.

The Bellaire Police Department shut down West 26th Street while the fires were burning to allow emergency vehicles access and to limit traffic flow in the immediate area of the blaze, according to an earlier report.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but it spread to two houses and a garage.

The two houses are deemed a total loss, Bell said, while part of the garage was saved.

One of the houses had no gas or electricity service and was presumed to be vacant.

Other fire departments assisted on the scene after Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department arrived around 4:15 p.m., including the OR&W Fire District, Neffs Fire Department, Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department and member agencies of the Belmont County Tanker Task Force.

The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office has been notified, and the fire is still under investigation, Bell said.