When homeowner Hal Jones returned to the site that was his family’s house yesterday morning, he had to borrow a pair of gloves from West River Fire Department chief Dennis Harnish.
Jones, his wife and their two children, aged seven and 12, fled their home so fast Sunday he didn’t have time to grab gloves.
Harnish said they got the call at 8:58 p.m. and were on the scene shortly thereafter, but by that time the 34-year-old bungalow on Highway 376 was engulfed. Working smoke detectors are credited with saving the family.
“Much of it is in the basement,” Harnish said of the remains of the house.
“It (the fire) was up in the walls and they barely got out, barely had time to call 911.”
Firefighters fought the blaze until about 11:30 p.m. Two cats are believed to have perished in the fire.
