5M News

October 18, 2009

Sweet Valley blaze kills family’s dog

Fire destroys a barn along Lamoreaux Road, but three horses are able to escape.

LAKE TOWNSHIP – A family’s hound dog died in a barn fire just before midnight Friday.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at 66 Lamoreaux Road that heavily damaged an area near a room with horseback-riding equipment, said Sweet Valley Fire and Ambulance Chief Lester Lynn.

Three horses were able to escape, but the pet dog wasn’t, Lynn said. The fire was confined to the tack room area.

A woman who lives across the street called 911 after noticing flames and heavy smoke at 11:34 p.m., Lynn said. Fire units were dispatched one minute later and arrived on scene at 11:39 p.m.

The fire station is located three miles from the Barby family barnyard.

“When we pulled in, the front room had heavy fire involvement,” Lynn said. “We had good response time and knocked the fire down fairly quickly.”

Crews continued to douse hot spots until 1:38 a.m. Saturday. Lynn said the cold, rainy weather had little effect on firefighters’ work.

Owner Charles Barby and his family were inside their home, which sits about 50 feet behind the barn. They did not notice the blaze until they were alerted by a neighbor, the chief said.

The family’s home was not damaged, Lynn said. They have insurance on the barn.

Lynn said the family was in the barn about an hour and a half prior to when flames broke out. The dog was found in the tack area, which sustained extensive heat damage, he said.

Fire is believed to have started in the wood-burning stove due to a faulty flue liner in the chimney of the saddle room, Lynn said. No other injuries were reported.

Jen Marckini, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210.

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