Fire destroys Town of Dover home; space heater may be to blame
TOWN OF DOVER, Wis. - Fire destroyed a two-story home in the Town of Dover in Racine County early Tuesday, Feb. 2.
"We’ve been here 15 years, never had anything like this," said Marijo Rommelfaenger, a neighbor.
Rommelfaenger said she was fast asleep when her son drove over to her house -- and woke her up.
House fire in the Town of Dover
"This morning he said, 'Did you know your neighbor's house is on fire at the alpaca farm?' And we said, 'No, we didn't hear a thing!" Rommelfaenger said.
Officials say a 911 call from the homeowner on N. Britton Road came in around 6:30 a.m. The homeowner stated the dining room was on fire -- and he believed a space heater had caused the fire.
House fire in the Town of Dover
The Racine County Sheriffs Office, the Racine County Fire Task Force, and multiple fire departments responded to the scene. Officials say it took roughly five hours from those multiple departments to extinguish all the fire.
"It was smoking, it was a lot of smoke, and steam from that big hook and ladder truck," Rommelfaenger said.
Fire destroys Town of Dover home
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
A father and son were home at the time of the fire. Both were able to get out safely along with three dogs. However, seven cats and a guinea pig were not able to be saved.
The home and its attached garage were a complete loss. One vehicle was also destroyed in the fire.
"I'm just really glad they're all safe. We're neighbors and I'm just really really glad that everyone is out safe," Rommelfaenger said.
At this time the fire remains under investigation.
Featured
6 Burlington Area School District school buses heavily damaged by fire
Six school buses were heavily damaged or destroyed by fire at a lot in Racine County early Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Featured
Summerfest moves to September, allows more time to vaccinate public
Summerfest will move from its original June 2021 dates to give health professionals more time to vaccinate the general public. Summerfest 2021 will be held September 2 – 4, 9 – 11 and 16 – 18.