Dorset Street fire destroys home
Mother and daughter Anne LaBombard Jones and Elizabeth Jones escaped a house fire unharmed after their four month old golden retriever alerted them to a conflagration in the mud room. As a result, Dorset Street in Charlotte was closed from Hinesburg Road to 540 Dorset Street in the early morning hours of April 12.
Life-saver pup, Berkeley, was missing for a time after having been let outside along with the family cat. He has since been located safe and sound, Charlotte Fire Department Assistant Chief Rob Mullin said.
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Anne’s mother, Louise LaBombard, said the cat escaped the fire but is still missing. She is a small tuxedo spayed female. “This has been very stressful for the family and we are so grateful for all the help that has been given,” she said. “Liz is a competitive horse rider and while most of her equipment was at the barn in Ferrisburgh she lost her recently purchased safety vest in the fire. Gift cards would be most appreciated.”
All fire operations were defensive with water being shuttled from a dry hydrant on Falls Road in Shelburne, Mullin said. There were about a dozen apparatus and 30 fire personnel on scene.
Dry hydrants are used to supply water for fighting fires in rural areas where municipal water systems are not available. They are tubing pipes that have one end below the water level of a lake or pond and are not pressurized.
The home was a total loss, Mullin said. The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time. Departments from Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg responded to the scene around 3:30 Wednesday morning.
LaBombard and her daughter have lost everything, a family member said, including vehicles, household and personal items. Donations of basic items are needed. To donate, send an email. Or visit Go Fund Me.
