Family escapes house fire Sunday morning; Dover firefighter rescues dog

WINFIELD — The cause of a Sunday morning fire at 4664 state Route 516 in Dover Township is undetermined, according to the Dover Fire Department.

A fire department press release said it was dispatched at 7:57 a.m. to a small one-story wood frame ranch house with a walk-out basement.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke flowing from the eaves and attic vents. The owner was outside and said everyone was out of the house, except the family dog. He did not know what was on fire.

Crews stretched a hose into the first floor to attack the fire and found heavy smoke and high heat. The fire was found in the kitchen and quickly extinguished, according to the fire department. Dover firefighter Ryan Bertsch found the dog alive in a back bedroom. It was safely removed from the building and reunited with the family.

The fire started near the stove top, but the exact cause could not be determined Sunday due to the damage. Significant fire damage was reportedly limited to the kitchen of the home, which sustained smoke damage throughout.

The fire department said the fire was under control within 20 minutes of its arrival, but crews were on the scene investigating until 11:55 a.m. 

Dover firefighters were assisted by others from the New Philadelphia, Sugarcreek and Strasburg fire departments, and Smith Ambulance.

There was no injury. No value had been set on the loss as of Sunday afternoon..