A house fire in the 3600 block of Buckingham Street in Norfolk killed three dogs and two cats Wednesday morning, even as the two human residents of the home managed to escape the flames unharmed. Norfolk Fire-Rescue crews arrived within two minutes of being dispatched and had the blaze under control in just over 40 minutes, but the pets inside could not be saved.
According to 13News Now, Norfolk Fire-Rescue received the report of the fire at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and had units on scene two minutes later. Firefighters arriving at the Buckingham Street address found heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence, and crews brought the fire under control by 9:12 a.m. Firefighters confirmed that all human occupants were already outside the home by the time crews arrived.
Despite the fast response, three dogs and two cats died in the fire, per the station's report. The two adults who lived in the home have been displaced and have requested assistance from the American Red Cross to find temporary housing and other support. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials have not released further details about what sparked it.
A Second Norfolk Pet Tragedy This Year
The Buckingham Street fire is not the only recent Norfolk blaze to claim a houseful of pets. A separate fire in the 2200 block of Dominion Avenue resulted in the deaths of seven dogs and several other pets, according to WAVY.com. In that incident, Norfolk Fire-Rescue units were dispatched at approximately 11:34 a.m. and fire control was called roughly 20 minutes later, at 11:54 a.m.
The lone occupant of the Dominion Avenue home safely exited before fire units arrived, and no other people were found inside, WAVY reported. That resident was also displaced and received assistance from the Red Cross, mirroring the aftermath now facing the two Buckingham Street residents.
What Comes Next for the Displaced Residents
With the cause of the Buckingham Street fire still under investigation, Norfolk Fire-Rescue has not indicated when more information might be released. For now, the two displaced adults are relying on the Red Cross for immediate needs as they begin to assess what's left of their home and figure out next steps.
