HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Four people are without a home and two dogs are dead after an early morning fire in Hanover County on Saturday.
On Saturday, March 30, Hanover Fire and EMS crews responded to the 11300 block of Old Elmont Road in the Ashland area for the report of a house fire. When crews arrived on scene, they were met with smoke and flames that reached high into the air.
Hanover Fire received the 911 call about the fire around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and were able to put it out in less than an hour. It took 11 fire crews to fully extinguish the fire.
Four people were reported to be living in the home, with one person currently in the hospital and the other three adults under the care of the American Red Cross.
While the residents were able to make it out of the house safely, two of the five dogs in the home did not survive. Hanover County Animal Control picked up the dogs on Saturday and will take care of them until the family can get back on their feet.
A neighbor who lives across the street from where the fire happened said he saw the smoke from his house as the fire burned.
Rafael Infante, the manager at Mexico Restaurant near where the fire took place, said he was extremely saddened to hear about the fire. He was especially upset after learning the two dogs did not make it.
“It’s a tragedy for the family, for the animals. The animals become part of you, part of your family,” Infante said. “There’s no words to express the sadness in that.”
Infante said he hopes the family is supporting one another during this difficult time and his heart breaks for them, especially since this happened on Easter weekend.
“Hold hands, stick together, say a prayer,” Infante said in a message to the family.
