Pets Die in Christmas Fire

Press release from Humboldt Fire:

Humboldt Bay Fire HBFShortly after midnight on December 25th Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to an investigation of a house fire which the owner believed to be extinguished but needed verification that the fire was out. The initial dispatch included a squad and an engine (five firefighters) to investigate and remove smoke from the residence. Upon arrival the officer from Squad 8174 observed moderate smoke and fire coming from a window and heavy smoke throughout the residence.

Based upon conditions the response was upgraded to a first alarm assignment. First arriving crews quickly knocked down the fire and removed smoke from the residence.

The fire was caused by newspaper and kindling being placed too close to an operating wood burning stove. Heat from the stove ignited the newspaper and started the fire, spreading to walls and surrounding combustibles. The owner said she woke up with her dog, which ordinarily sleeps in the living room near the wood stove, in her bedroom barking. After realizing her home was on fire she attempted to extinguish it with a garden hose before calling 911. There were no working smoke detectors inside the residence. The owner and dog were uninjured, but unfortunately a pet bird and frog died due to smoke exposure.

Property damage is estimated at $6,000.

During this holiday season please take a few moments to verify your home has working smoke detectors. When we sleep our sense of smell is greatly diminished and the odor of smoke cannot be relied upon to alert us to the presence of a fire.

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8 Comments
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nico
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nico
8 years ago

Where was this fire?

Watcher2
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Watcher2
8 years ago
Reply to  nico

7th Street off of Bay Street (north of Myrtle Avenue).

G-ma
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G-ma
8 years ago

Glad the folks are ok,so sorry about your pets

Barry Wallowberg
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Barry Wallowberg
8 years ago

My ex put a pitch wood log on top of a cast iron stove once. The smoke alarms woke me up and I threw the burning log outside in the snow. I kept that log on the front porch until that place sold so it wouldn’t happen again.
People do crazy stuff when they smoke pot.

G-ma
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G-ma
8 years ago

Yuck!!that’s funny story.thanks

Anon Forrest
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Anon Forrest
8 years ago

Heart-felt condolences for your lost friends; know that they’ve just caught a ride on the endless Wheel and that now they’re truly Free. I wish you well. af

elaine gerber
Guest
8 years ago

No one ever seems to rescue the animals. Only the people in the household. I have been reading about too many animals perishing. It seems they don’t bother to save them if it takes any amount of effort.

Barry Wallowberg
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Barry Wallowberg
8 years ago
Reply to  elaine gerber

Would you risk your life to save someone’s pitbull with a bandanna on?

Animals don’t have souls and aren’t worth a human life.

People should save their own pets and take their own risk, not leave it up to someone else.