Dog revived after blaze

No human injuries in fire that killed second pet

September 26, 2006

By MARY AMES/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - While their owners were away, two dogs apparently ignited a fire that torched a home's kitchen and dining area and left one of the dogs dead Monday morning.

A neighbor who noticed smoke pouring from the eaves at 4830 West Ronnies Circle called Central Mat-Su Fire Department about 9 a.m., according to Jack Krill Jr., chief. Firefighters from Meadow Lakes also responded to the fire, which was quickly extinguished, he said.

Apparently, Lucy, a white and brown brindle bulldog mix, and Elvis, a black lab mix, jumped up on the kitchen stove and turned the burners on. The pots on the stove heated up and the back wall and cabinets caught fire. The fire had been burning about an hour and a half before the neighbor noticed the smoke at the house off Knik-Goose Bay Road, he said.

&#8220We got it out quickly,” Krill said. &#8220The people left their bedroom doors closed, so their clothes are all fine, but there's heavy black soot on everything in the dining room and living room.”

Damage was estimated to be from $5,000 to $8,000, Krill said, and Red Cross was assisting the homeowners.

Both dogs were unconscious when firefighters arrived at the home. Special masks connected to oxygen were used by firefighters when they tried to revive the dogs.

Matt Hardwig, an animal care officer with the Mat-Su Borough, rushed the dogs to the Wasilla Vet Clinic, Krill said.

Elvis was revived, but Lucy didn't make it, Krill said. Elvis suffered from smoke inhalation and had black soot in his lungs, he said.

The house was built less than a year ago, and its smoke-detector alarms were sounding when firefighters arrived. If the alarms had been connected to an alarm company, firefighters would have been alerted sooner, he said, adding that residential sprinklers also would have put the fire out.

Contact Mary Ames at 352-2284 or mary.ames@frontiersman.com.