Henrico house fire displaces family and 15 dogs
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A house fire early this morning displaced a family and their 15 dogs after flames ravaged part of their home on Portugee Road near Poplar Springs Road. Fire officials report that the fire started in the kitchen and spread quickly, causing significant damage to the house. The fire broke out just before 7 a.m. -- when the homeowner, who had been taking her daughter to school, returned to find her house engulfed in flames. Crews from the Henrico Fire Department responded to the scene within minutes, finding heavy smoke billowing from the back of the house. Henrico Fire crews responding to a house fire in the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group) The homeowner's father-in-law and daughter-in-law were inside at the time. The daughter-in-law managed to assist her father-in-law, who uses a walker, to safety. However, the elderly man fell outside the house, injuring his head before being rushed to the hospital for treatment. Despite the severity of the blaze, fire crews managed to gain control of the fire after about 30 minutes of intense firefighting efforts. A major concern for firefighters was rescuing the family's 15 dogs, some of which required oxygen. The dogs, which ranged in age from a few days old to fully grown, were found both inside and outside the home. Some were trapped on the upper floor and had to be rescued by firefighters. A Henrico Fire crew member holding a dog rescued from a house fire on the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)A Henrico firefighter administering oxygen to a dog after a house fire on the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Henrico County Division of Fire)A Henrico Fire crew member administering oxygen to a dog after a house fire on the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Henrico County Division of Fire) The homeowner, who breeds dogs, praised the fire department for their swift action. She added that, in addition to the emotional toll of losing their home, the family is still processing the damage caused by the fire. Fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the blaze, and the Henrico Fire Marshal's office continues to investigate. While the damage to the home is significant, both the family and the animals are expected to recover. Firefighters' quick response to the fire undoubtedly prevented a much worse outcome.
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A house fire early this morning displaced a family and their 15 dogs after flames ravaged part of their home on Portugee Road near Poplar Springs Road.
Fire officials report that the fire started in the kitchen and spread quickly, causing significant damage to the house.
The fire broke out just before 7 a.m. -- when the homeowner, who had been taking her daughter to school, returned to find her house engulfed in flames.
Crews from the Henrico Fire Department responded to the scene within minutes, finding heavy smoke billowing from the back of the house.
Henrico Fire crews responding to a house fire in the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
(Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
The homeowner's father-in-law and daughter-in-law were inside at the time. The daughter-in-law managed to assist her father-in-law, who uses a walker, to safety. However, the elderly man fell outside the house, injuring his head before being rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Despite the severity of the blaze, fire crews managed to gain control of the fire after about 30 minutes of intense firefighting efforts.
A major concern for firefighters was rescuing the family's 15 dogs, some of which required oxygen. The dogs, which ranged in age from a few days old to fully grown, were found both inside and outside the home. Some were trapped on the upper floor and had to be rescued by firefighters.
A Henrico Fire crew member holding a dog rescued from a house fire on the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Media Group)
A Henrico firefighter administering oxygen to a dog after a house fire on the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Henrico County Division of Fire)
A Henrico Fire crew member administering oxygen to a dog after a house fire on the 3000 block of Portugee Road on Thursday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy: Henrico County Division of Fire)
The homeowner, who breeds dogs, praised the fire department for their swift action. She added that, in addition to the emotional toll of losing their home, the family is still processing the damage caused by the fire.
Fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the blaze, and the Henrico Fire Marshal's office continues to investigate.
While the damage to the home is significant, both the family and the animals are expected to recover. Firefighters' quick response to the fire undoubtedly prevented a much worse outcome.
