Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
5 dogs perish in trailer fire
Firefighters: Home a total loss
Several dogs perished in a house fire Saturday night, according to firefighters. Firefighters were dispatched at 10:43 p.m. Saturday to the first block of Keystone Court in Honey Brook Township for a mobile home fire reported with entrapment. Honey Brook Deputy Fire Chief Barry Messner said that upon arrival there was “fire blowing out pretty much half of the trailer.”
Firefighters had received reports of people trapped inside, and that they were banging on the walls. Messner, who was first on-scene, said he heard screaming.
“At first I thought it was people (screaming),” Messner said, “but then I realized it was the dogs.”
Messner heard the dogs crying and scratching, but when that stopped shortly after their arrival, he knew the dogs had perished. The homeowner was not home at the time of the fire, ac-
cording to Messner.
He said the firefighters went into service immediately with hand-lines and started to extinguish the fire quickly. Messner said that despite the fire companies involved performing an aggressive fire attack, the outcome was negative.
No other injuries were reported. Messner called the home a total loss with 90 percent of it damaged.
The fire was placed under control at 11:25 p.m. Messner said with the amount of fire and contents inside the home, they had extensive overhaul and extension of fire. Firefighters cleared the scene at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
At least five dogs died in the fire, according to Messner. He added that there may have been more because there were puppies in the home too.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get them out in time,” Messner said.
Messner said that the firefighters had covered the dogs with sheets and removed them from the home. He commended the firefighters for being compassionate toward the homeowner.
“It was pretty tragic at the end,” Messner said. “It was tough, being a dog lover myself.”
East Brandywine, Glen Moore, Wagontown and Lionville Fire Companies assisted Honey Brook Fire Company. Honey Brook Elverson EMS, Uwchlan Ambulance and Honey Brook police also responded.
“It was pretty tragic at the end. It was tough, being a dog lover myself.” — Honey Brook Deputy Fire Chief Barry Messner