Indian Joint Fire District firefighters, along with Lakeview, Huntsville and Bellefontaine fire departments, were dispatched to 2059 Center St., Lewistown, for a house fire Tuesday afternoon. (JACOB HOWELL PHOTO)
The Lewistown home of a recently retired Bellefontaine Fire Department assistant fire chief was deemed a total loss in a structure fire that occurred Tuesday, April 16.
Indian Joint Fire District firefighters were dispatched to the home of Shannon Reames at 2059 Center St., Lewistown, at 1:03 p.m., IJFD Chief Mark Gibson said. Lakeview, Huntsville and Bellefontaine fire departments provided mutual aid.
The home was already “fully involved” when crews arrived on the scene, the fire chief said.
Reames and his family were not home at the time of the blaze. However, two cats and three dogs died in the fire, Chief Gibson said. A pet rabbit survived.
Two firefighters also were treated for heat-related illness as a result of the warmer temperatures Tuesday afternoon. They were transported by Indian Lake EMS to Mary Rutan Hospital, where they were treated and released.
Witnesses on the scene noted first responders were consoling Reames on the loss of his home. The American Red Cross is also assisting the family.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Crews were on the scene until about 5:30 p.m.