Southpinellas: Fire kills six dogs, guts part of house

Fire kills six dogs, guts part of house

By MIKE BRASSFIELD

ST. PETERSBURG -- A fire raced through a house on Christmas Eve, killing six chihuahuas before their owner could save them.

Ruth Harris fled the house as thick black smoke filled room after room.

The fire broke out about 7:20 p.m. at 2567 35th Ave. N, a white one-story house where Harris lived with nine dogs. At least two or possibly three chihuahuas survived.

"It was a very rapidly spreading fire," said District Chief Roger Lane of the St. Petersburg Fire Department.

Firefighters weren't sure what caused the blaze, which gutted the rear of the house but spared most of the front.

The fire started in a back room, Lane said. It destroyed two rooms, blew out several windows and caused smoke damage in the garage.

When firefighters arrived at the house just west of Interstate 275, flames could be seen flickering through holes in the roof.

"There was very heavy smoke throughout the house, from ceiling to floor," Lane said. "It covered the neighborhood."

Six dogs in cages died. Harris told firefighters that three dogs that weren't in cages escaped the flames, and she had seen them outside. Two of them were found Sunday night.

"It's a tragedy," said Harris' son-in-law, Dave Coley.

Before the smoke forced Harris out, she was able to call her family and tell them her house was on fire. Seven relatives rushed to the scene and huddled with Harris on a nearby lawn as firefighters extinguished the blaze. Neighbors' Christmas lights and fire engines' sirens flickered all around them.

Relatives were sad that Harris' dogs had died, but they were relieved that Harris was okay.

"We were supposed to have Christmas dinner here tomorrow. I don't see that happening," Coley said. "But we have something to be thankful for."

A fire inspector was trying to track down the fire's cause late Sunday. The damage was estimated at $30,000.

The family praised firefighters for getting to the scene quickly and saving much of the house.

"They did a heck of a job here," Coley said. "For them to get out here as fast as they did, they should be commended."