Family Homeless, Pets Dead Following Fire

SMITH COUNTY — An East Texas family is homeless after losing its home to an assumed electric fire. If that weren’t enough on Christmas Eve, their family pets never made it out. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton told KETK that the family’s pets, a mother pit bull and her two puppies, were inside at the time of the blaze and were unable to escape. The blaze happened on County Road 3158, also known as Joy-Wright Mountain Road.

The homeowner was not at home at the time of the blaze, but was in Palestine. Her mother lives right next door, and when she saw the flames, she called 911 immediately. The grandmother told dispatch she believed her 15-year-old granddaughter was inside the house at the time. Fortunately, the teen wasn’t. Instead, authorities say, she was in Liberty City after allegedly sneaking out around 10:00 p.m. Thursday night to hang out with friends there. According to Seaton, the teen had left a heating blanket on for the puppies. It’s assumed that is what could have sparked the blaze.

Seaton wants residents to take extreme caution when it comes to space heaters and electric blankets. He says to turn them off before you leave the house — and if you’re home, don’t leave them too close to anything that will combust.