Family’s pet cat dies in Thursday afternoon fire
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A fast response by the Bella Vista Fire Department is credited with saving a family home on Basildon Drive Thursday.
Homeowners Sandy and Larry Lewis's garage was destroyed and their home suffered damage, but no one was injured in the fire.
Fire trucks from two Bella Vista stations were dispatched to the scene just after 4 p.m. Firefighters had the blaze under control in 18 minutes, Fire Chief Steve Sims said.
The fire began in a car parked in the garage. The cause of the blaze is not known at this time; the BVFD will most likely work with insurance company investigators to determine the cause of the blaze, Sims said.
The Lewis's son, Robby, had returned home from Northwest Arkansas Community College and was inside working. When he came outside, approximately 10-20 minutes later, he saw fire dripping down from the bottom of the vehicle.
He tried to use a fire extinguisher - it would not work and he ran to several neighbors looking for another.
At the third house he tried, Sandi Mann and neighbor Melody Kunnecke were standing outside, and Kunnecke had a fire extinguisher - it would not work either. They placed the call to 911.
The flames spread from the car to the garage, and into the attic, which contained boxes of winter clothing.
Sandy Lewis was called and arrived at the scene after the fire was extinguished. Her brother-inlaw, Danny Lewis, and his wife Lena, came to the home as well.
Larry Lewis was in California with his father, who is in an intensive care unit. Larry's father built the home and lived there for many years.
The vehicle and garage were destroyed and a bedroom behind the garage suffered some damage. The rest of the home received smoke and water damage only.
The only occupants inside the home at the time of the fire were a dog belonging to Larry Lewis's father, and the family cat.
The dog was rescued by firefighters, and given oxygen, but the cat hid from them and they were unable to save it.
The fire department is equipped with a canine / feline oxygen mask.
"We couldn't believe that dog was alive," Sims said, while shaking his head.
The majority of the house was undamaged, according to Sims, and many important family possessions were saved through the firefighters efforts.
After the fire was out, firefighters piled the families furniture and belongings in the middle of the living room and placed salvage covers over them. This keeps the smoke and water from damaging the families possessions even further.
A generator equipped with a fan was used to blow the smoke out of the home as quickly as possible.
Sandy Lewis was permitted into the home to gather clothing and any possessions she wanted to remove.
Once the fire was out broken windows were boarded up and the home secured. The Lewis's went to spend the night at the family's condominium.
Sims was very proud of his team.
"We have the best firefighters around; their compassion, professionalism and courtesy are of the highest."
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