EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Merrimack Valley

Firefighters save 2 dogs, too late for 2 others

By Rebecca Correa, Staff writer
The Eagle-Tribune
Published: December 31, 2007

SALEM, N.H. — Two small dogs died during a fire yesterday that left a split-level house on Meisner Road uninhabitable.

No one was home when the fire began in the house owned by Michael and Donna Dobeck, but officials said a rescue effort to save the family’s four dogs began almost immediately.

Two Labrador retrievers were pulled from inside the wrecked home within 15 minutes of the 10 a.m. blaze being reported by neighbors. Two smaller dogs, a poodle and a Chihuahua, were pronounced dead 45 minutes after firefighters arrived.

Officials said it is unclear how the fire started at 6 Meisner Road. Although the house was still standing, the interior was badly damaged by smoke, water and heat that left the house uninhabitable, fire Chief Kevin Breen said.

About 20 firefighters from Salem and Windham responded after several neighbors, who were outside shoveling snow, noticed heavy smoke coming from the house and called 911.

Janet Christie, who was visiting one of the Dobecks’ neighbors, was one of about three people who were outside and spotted the smoke.

“I looked up and thought it was the chimney, but said, ‘That’s too much smoke,’” she said. “Then I heard a bang.”

Less than 10 minutes after the calls came in, firefighters arrived at the scene.

“I kept yelling at them, ‘Get the dogs, get the dogs,’” she said. “I wanted to run in there and get them, but (her friend) told me not to.”

Firefighters rescued a yellow Labrador first, followed by a black Labrador that required oxygen. About five firefighters huddled over the black Labrador and attempted to save its life.

Breen said the dog was whimpering, but as oxygen began to enter the animal’s system, the dog pawed away the mask and became livelier.

The homeowner’s son was the first to arrive at the house and told officials there were still two more dogs in the house. Firefighters discovered a poodle that they also tried to resuscitate with oxygen, but the dog died from smoke and heat inhalation. They later discovered the final dog, a Chihuahua, dead inside the house.

While the family does have a pellet stove, officials said it did not appear to be the immediate cause of the fire.

Fire Capt. Paul Leischner said the fire appears to have started somewhere on the upper level, near the back of the house. He said investigators were on the scene for about four hours and the investigation will resume tomorrow.

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