December 28, 1977

11 Puppies die in 2 house fires

      Eleven puppies were killed when heating devices to keep the animals warm set fire to two homes here yesterday. No persons were injured in the fires, but both homes were badly damaged. Six puppies died in the home of Mrs. F.C. Clevenger when a fire broke out in a garage closet at 8:23 a.m. the other puppies were killed when a fire erupted in a bathroom in the bi-level home of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Nealy at 10:39 a.m. Greenwood Deputy Fire Chief Richard VanValer said the fire in the Clevenger home was touch off by a heat lamp placed in a closet to keep the puppies warm. The dogs were in a cardboard box. The lamped slipped from a rod and ignited straw in the box. The fire spread from the garage to the kitchen before it was brought under control. VanValer said 25 firefighters were on the scene two hours. Four pieces of fire apparatus responded to the alarm. VanValer said no one was at home when the fire started. Neighbors turned in the alarm. A pick-up truck was lost in the garage, he said. Damage was estimated at $10,000. An electric heater overheated in the Nealy home, Van Valer said. The family was staying with neighbors because of a faulty heating system. The puppies were in the bathroom, and an electric heater was plugged in to keep them warm. VanValer said windows on the house were cracking when the first 35 firemen arrived. The alarm was turned in at 10:39 a.m. Firefighters and apparatus from Greenwood, Whiteland Rural and Perry Township (Marion County) helped White River Township battle the blaze. VanValer said 75 percent of the house was lost. Some of the roof was burned off. He said insufficient water hampered firefighters in battling the blaze. Water was shuttled to the fire in tankers. Firemen remained on the scene until 5:43 p.m  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

     
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