Dogs alert family to fire, but unable to be saved

The Herald-Palladium

BARODA, Mich. — A Baroda family was alerted to an early Saturday morning fire by the barking of their two dogs, and escaped from the house uninjured.

Unfortunately, the dogs, a mother and her one-year-old pup, were lost, along with 12 cats, reported Baroda-Lake Township Fire Chief Larry Klug.

The house at 9125 Second St., owned by Bruce and Sandra Gerlach, was heavily damaged, Klug said.

The fire started in the ceiling of the basement, and a large amount of firewood stored there fed the fire. Firefighters were alerted at 5:55 a.m.

Bruce Gerlach tried to reach the dogs in the basement but was driven back by the flames, as were firefighters when they arrived, Klug said.

Because of the damage to the floor, firefighters had to control the flames from outside and could not enter to save the pets.

Most of the firefighters had left by 1:30 p.m., but some crew members were still on the scene that evening keeping hot spots inside the home from flaring up.

Firefighters were later able to retrieve some of the owners' possessions.

Lincoln Township firefighters assisted at the scene.

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