Three dogs perish in Edgewater garage fire

EDGEWATER -- Three dogs perished when a family's garage at 1581 Boyce Circle caught fire Oct. 19, Edgewater Fire DEepartment officials reported.

Upon arrival that Sunday night , the crew of Engine 57 found a detached garage, 200 feet from the main residence, fully engulfed in flames, said Lt. Jill Danigel, also the department's fire marshal.

The fire was quickly extinguished and no damage occurred to the home.

"The owners advised that there were three dogs inside the closed garage," Danigel said. " Two dogs, in cages, were found to be deceased. The dogs were removed by fire crews and buried on the property by the firefighters at the owner’s request. The third dog was never located and is presumed to have perished in the fire as well.

One of the homeowners was treated on scene by EVAC personnel and transported to Bert Fish Medical Center for minor health issues that occurred during the evacuation of a disabled family member, Danigel said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to respond due to the scope of the fire. It was determined that the fire was accidental in nature and caused by one or more electrical appliances plugged into an extension cord, Danigel said.

Damage was estimated at $50,000, but keeping the fire away from the home saved the family from an additional loss of $150,000, Danigel said.