The Fire Marshal is now trying to figure out if an arsonist started an Orange County house fire.
A woman who lives in a house on Shamrock Court came home just before 1:00am, Tuesday morning, to find her house on fire. Orange County firefighters were convinced the overnight fire was intentionally set.
"She noticed the blinds were opened in the garage which she never has open, and two gas cans at the garage entrance on the side," said Batt. Chief Michael OToole of the Orange County Fire Department.
The homeowner said she saw flames inside the house in the family room but could not go in to save her pet. She called 911 and when help arrived, firefighters quickly put out the fire. Her small dog, however, did not make it out alive.
"Found it under her bed, we tried to resuscitate it with our specialized animal masks that we carry. That was unsuccessful," said OToole.
The house has extensive fire damage in the living room and kitchen and heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the house.
It will be up to arson investigators with the State Fire Marshal's Office to find out who did it and why.
Copyright 2006 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
