The family dog alerted three adults and a child to an intense apartment fire late Sunday night in Wilson Borough, borough fire Chief Joe Sipel reports.
But when firefighters attempted to rescue the mixed breed named Cody from its crate, it dashed back into the flames and perished, Sipel added.
A man who lived in the apartment suffered burns to his back and feet in the blaze at 2000 Butler St. and remained hospitalized on Monday morning, Sipel said.
The fire was reported just after 10 p.m., the chief said.
A man was burned and a dog died in an apartment fire about 10 p.m. Oct. 20, 2019, at 2000 Butler St. in Wilson Borough, authorities say.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com
The fire started in the apartment, which has two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room on the second floor and another bedroom on the third floor, Sipel said. The first floor commercial space is under renovation and was empty, the chief said.
The investigation into a cause was to begin once the sun was up on Monday, Sipel said.
A man was burned and a dog died in an apartment fire about 10 p.m. Oct. 20, 2019, at 2000 Butler St. in Wilson Borough, authorities say.Courtesy LV Fire Pix on Facebook
There were no smoke alarms in the apartment, Sipel said. It is believed a neighbor called 911, Sipel said Monday morning outside the building, although he had yet to get a look at the paperwork.
There was smoke, fire and water damage on the second floor, with smoke damage on the third floor bedroom and some water reached the first floor, Sipel said.
A man was burned and a dog died in an apartment fire about 10 p.m. Oct. 20, 2019, at 2000 Butler St. in Wilson Borough, authorities say.Courtesy LV Fire Pix on Facebook
Flames were roaring as firefighters arrived, but using interior and exterior stairways to get to the second floor, they were able to get ahead of the blaze and have it under control within 45 minutes, Sipel said. While roof beams may have to be replaced, the building is repairable, Sipel said.
“Our guys did a good job stopping it,” Sipel said. “They knocked it down pretty quick.”
A man was burned and a dog died in an apartment fire about 10 p.m. Oct. 20, 2019, at 2000 Butler St. in Wilson Borough, authorities say. A resident suffered burns to his back and feet and a total of four people were chased from their apartment, the fire chief says.Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor
The Palmer Township, West Easton and Easton fire departments assisted, Sipel said.
The owner -- A&M1996 LLC, which is tied to a Forks Township address -- had insurance on the building, but it didn’t appear the residents had renters insurance on their belongings, Sipel said.
As of Monday morning, the three residents who weren’t in the hospital hadn’t needed aid from the American Red Cross, but that could change as the day goes on, Sipel said. The residents were already in a neighbor’s house when firefighters arrived Sunday night, he said.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A man was burned and a dog died in an apartment fire about 10 p.m. Oct. 20, 2019, at 2000 Butler St. in Wilson Borough, authorities say.Courtesy LV Fire Pix on Facebook