Newton house fire results in deaths of three pets

No persons were injured in a house fire late in the morning on July 8 in Newton, but a number of pets did not survive, first-responders told Newton News.

Newton Fire Department responded to a call of a house fire around 9:45 a.m. near the 400 block of North Third Avenue East. The family was not home at the time of the blaze. Three dogs died in the fire, and a cat is missing. However, the family’s pet snakes were retrieved from the burning home relatively unharmed.

When firefighters responded to the scene, flames were coming out of the north and east sides of the home. Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik said fire had vented from the kitchen windows and was extending up the side of the house. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“The house suffered significant fire damage in the kitchen area,” Wellik later told Newton News. “There was significant smoke and water damage throughout the entire house. We are estimating the damage at approximately $90,000.”

Residents of the home advised firefighters of the location of the snakes, which were then removed by firefighters with the assistance of officers from the Newton Police Department. When the snakes were out of the home, they were secured until the family was able to take control of them.

No other structures, including neighboring homes, were damaged by the fire. Newton Fire Department initially advised the closest neighbor to evacuate the property until the fire was brought under control.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com