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July 22, 2006

Dog perishes, home uninhabitable after fire

By Courtney Paquette and Zach Church

DERRY, N.H. - Firefighters extinguished a basement fire on Settlers Lane just before a drenching rain hit, but a family dog died in the basement.

Eighteen Derry firefighters responded to a call of smoke pouring from the split-level house at 4:38 p.m.

"The fire was actually knocked down very quickly," said Battalion Chief Jack Webb. Still, firefighters had to work to vent the house in the rain, tearing open one outside wall.

The dog was found in the basement and likely died from smoke inhalation, Webb said.

Derry fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by an overheated cable transformer.

"We initially thought it was lightning, but that's not the case," Webb said. The fire caused extensive heat damage to the basement and smoke damage to the rest of the house, he said.

Homeowners Arthur and Susan Destefano were away on vacation, but their 25-year-old daughter Tara Bottino was in town. Bottino burst into tears as she watched smoke pour from the windows of the home.

"I just hope everything's not damaged," Bottino said.

A rescue crew of firefighters from Windham was also at the scene, as well as a medic from Londonderry. One Derry firefighter twisted his ankle, but did not need medical attention, Webb said.

Firefighters from Londonderry, Chester, Hampstead and Salem all backed up Derry's station during the fire. The fire was declared under control at 5:22 p.m.

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