In tragic news, a dog and his elderly dad died in a house fire on New Year’s Day in Minnesota.
Dog and Dad Discovered Dead in House Fire
Someone placed a 911 call to the Douglas County sheriff’s office on Sunday around 9:30 p.m. to report a fire at County Road 102 NE near Miltona, a town in western Minnesota. When first responders arrived, the home was already inundated with flames.
The remains of a dog and the body of an 85-year-old man named Gene DeMartelaere were found on the main floor.
The man’s son, 52-year-old Charles DeMartelaere, reported that he had been in another building on the property. He then saw the fire and attempted to rescue Gene. But he could not reach him due to the flames, heat, and smoke. Charles suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Alomere Hospital in Alexandria.
The sheriff’s office said the house fire did not seem to be suspicious, but the cause is still under investigation.
More Tales of Dogs and House Fires
Dogs and house fires have been in the news a lot lately. A police dog, plus two other canines, recently died following an inferno in Chisago, Minnesota. In the UK, a dog accidentally turned on a hair dryer, setting a home ablaze.
Other stories involving dogs and fires are more inspiring, and feature heroic dogs taking charge in fiery circumstances. In Wichita, Kansas, a Pit Bull saved his dog dad’s life by waking him up from a nap when a fire broke out in their home. In Bodmin, Cornwall, last month, a Pit Bull and Labrador alerted twin sisters when an armchair ignited, before the smoke alarm registered the flames.
It would seem like having a dog is even better than a smoke alarm. But just in case, you should probably have both!
