Three dogs dead in Norwich house fire
Norwich — Fire damaged a single-family home on West Thames Street on Tuesday evening, and firefighters determined that three dogs died in the blaze.
No persons were injured in the fire at 160 W. Thames St., though the dogs' owner was grieving and being assisted by police.
Vicki Bentley, who lives diagonally across the street, said she felt badly for her neighbor. "It's awful," she said. "We have cats and a dog. I'd be devastated."
City Fire Chief Kenneth Scandariato said firefighters were at the door within three minutes of the call reporting the fire at 7:04 p.m.
"Upon arrival we had fire coming out of the entire first floor, coming out the windows and extending to the second floor," he said. The fire damaged the building extensively but it is salvageable, he said.
Scandariato said the fire was the first incident to test a new policy that brings volunteer firefighters directly to the scene to assist rather than dispatching them from headquarters. He said the policy was a success and the firefighters worked well together.
"We put a hard, aggressive push on this one," he said, crediting the young team of firefighters with saving the building. "I'm very proud of our guys tonight."
The Laurel Hill and East Great Plain fire departments assisted at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Dawn Walls, who lives nearby on West Thames Street, said a couple lived in the home with their miniature Schnauzer dogs. "Her yard's fenced in and she'd let them out during the day," Walls said.
The American Red Cross on Wednesday said it is assisting the home's two residents.
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