A devastating house fire in Powder Springs on Friday killed seven dogs and left one other pulled to safety, according to local officials. Fire crews arrived to find heavy flames tearing through the back of the home and smoke pushing out from the roof. The resident of the house was already outside when firefighters got there.
According to Atlanta News First, Cobb County Fire Department units were called to the home on Ponderosa Lane, where they managed to rescue one dog from the burning structure. Seven other dogs did not survive the blaze. Fire officials are still working to determine what started the fire. The outlet reports that crews saw the rear of the house already burning and smoke rising from the roof when they pulled up.
Investigation Underway
Cobb County's fire-investigation unit will now comb through the scene to pinpoint a cause and to see whether any building code issues or criminal activity played a role. The county notes that its investigators are on call around the clock and handle roughly 100 to 150 fire investigations each year, according to Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services. Authorities have not said when they expect to release additional details.
How To Protect Pets In A House Fire
The American Red Cross urges families to build their fire escape plans with pets in mind. That includes keeping carriers and sturdy leashes near exits and preparing a pet emergency kit with food, water, and vaccination records in case everyone needs to leave in a hurry.
Research highlighted by the NFPA shows that working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half, which puts routine testing and battery checks near the top of the home safety to-do list.
Anyone with information that could help investigators, or who needs guidance on home fire safety, can contact Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services through the county website. Local outlets are expected to update coverage as authorities learn more about what happened on Ponderosa Lane.
