Fire Rescue News - Eight dogs dead, two homes damaged in early-morning fires
A pair of early-morning fires in western Atlantic County left eight dogs dead, two homes uninhabitable and fire crews scrambling.
The first fire started at about 7:30 a.m., in a home along the 1000 block of 12th Avenue in the Dorothy section of Weymouth Township.
Dorothy Fire Call Recording
This is a VOX recording. It is condensed and not in real time.
Estell Manor Fire Call Recording
This is a VOX recording. It is condensed and not in real time.
the fire started in the garage area of the two-story home. Gibney said the house was deemed a total loss after sustaining heavy fire and smoke damage.
The home's 10 residents were able to safety escape the fire, Gibney said, when an alarm sounded and a homeowner smelled smoke.
The residents bred dogs, and the fire killed eight dogs that were housed in the garage.
Gibney said a faulty electric space heater likely caused the fire.
The American Red Cross responded to assist the residents, who were planning to stay with relatives, Gibney said.
A Weymouth Township firefighter suffered a minor foot injury while on scene from a protruding nail, but was fine after receiving treatment.
Less than five miles and 30 minutes later, a fire broke out at a home in the 100 block of Eighth Avenue in Estell Manor.
Chief Dan Collins of the Estell Manor Volunteer Fire Company said no one was home at the time of the fire - which caused extensive damage and left the home unlivable.
Collins said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
"There was a lot going on," Collins said.
His colleague in Weymouth Township agreed.
"It was quite a long, unusual day," Gibney said.
Contact Christopher Ramirez: 609-272-7215 CRamirez@pressofac.com
