May 25--A house fire Friday night sent two firefighters to the hospital, killed four pets and displaced a family in Iron Gate in Alleghany County.
Botetourt County dispatch said there was a report of a structure fire about 10:30 p.m. in Iron Gate. Iron Gate Fire Chief Robert Boyd said the house fire was near the 2300 block of Botetourt Road near the head of the James River.
He said the fire started in the basement of a single-story house and had already burned through the first floor by the time rescue crews arrived, making it hard for firefighters to get into the home and contain it.
When firefighters first arrived, there was heavy smoke, but no visible flames, Boyd said. However, Boyd said, there were two tanks of diesel fuel in the basement and flames later spread through the house.
It took about three hours for crews to contain the fire, and the last emergency service personnel did not leave the scene until about 6 a.m. Saturday , he said.
There were no fire hydrants near the house , and its rural location made it difficult for trucks to reach it, Boyd said.
Boyd confirmed that two firefighters were taken to a hospital for heat exhaustion and dehydration, but they have been released . There were no other injuries, but three cats and a dog were killed in the blaze.
Boyd said a woman and her children were living in the home at the time, but the house was a "total loss."
He said the Botetourt County fire marshal's office is investigating.
Copyright 2013 - The Roanoke Times, Va.
