More than a dozen cats die in house fire near Walkerton - InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading newswires
Topics
  • Life Insurance
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property & Casualty
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Fiduciary Rule
  • INN Exclusives
  • Newswires
  • INNsider
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • ★ Regulation News
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Staff
  • Contact
  • Susbcribe

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Google+
Insider
newswires
newswires RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints Share
May 21, 2018 newswires No comments Views: 7

More than a dozen cats die in house fire near Walkerton

South Bend Tribune (IN)

May 21--WALKERTON -- A couple escaped unharmed from a fire that destroyed their house Sunday afternoon, but more than a dozen of their cats didn't make it out alive.

Perry and Theresa Smith estimated they had nearly 20 cats at their house in Lincoln Township near the town of Walkerton, and only three survived the blaze. There were two litters of kittens and several rescue cats in the house, located at 33478 Towle Road.

"It's the worst day of my life," said Perry Smith, explaining that the retired couple sells kittens. "We couldn't get to the cats because the smoke was so overwhelming."

Firefighters reported that numerous cats were found dead on the main floor of the house, where they suffocated from smoke inhalation. The three cats that survived were administered oxygen after being rushed out of the house.

The Walkerton Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 3:35 p.m., arriving less than 10 minutes later.

"We had flames on the south exterior and heavy smoke from every area of the eaves of the roof," said Kenny Eggleston, the department's chief.

It took about 40 minutes for firefighters to contain the blaze, he said, with the "help of ventilation and an interior attack."

Perry Smith said he was watching television in the basement with his wife when a circuit breaker tripped. The breaker was reset, and then it tripped again. Minutes later, he said, the couple noticed smoke coming from the main floor.

"We went upstairs and there was dense smoke. You couldn't breathe," he said, explaining that the couple rushed from the house and asked a bystander to call 911.

He suspects an electrical issue caused the fire to start in the sunroom at the rear of the house, which had 10 power outlets and a ceiling fan. After hearing Smith's account of what happened, Eggleston concluded an electrical issue likely caused the blaze.

The couple has homeowner's insurance and expect damages to be fully covered. But they'll miss their cats.

"I loved them all," Theresa Smith said, adding that people had recently agreed to buy four kittens. "We're going to have to tell them they're not available."

Walkerton firefighters were assisted by the Koontz Lake-Oregon Township Fire Department, Liberty Township Fire Department, Pleasant Township Fire Department and Polk Township Fire Department.

[email protected] 574-235-6070 @Tbooker24

[email protected]

574-235-6070

@Tbooker24

___

(c)2018 the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.)

Visit the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.) at www.southbendtribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Older

Quorum Health Corporation Announces Leadership Transition

Newer

Certara’s Analytica Laser Launches Market Access Radar Providing Biopharma and Medical Device Companies with Breaking News on Access to Health Technologies Globally

Advisor News

  • Baby Boomers Flocking To A Mexican Retirement
  • Retired Massachusetts Landscaper Scammed Out Of $100K, State Says
  • MDRT Study Finds Consumers Want Advisors Over Tech
  • Your Clients Should Plan Retirement Savings To Last 23 Years
  • Robert Moore Steps Down As CEO Of Cetera, Due To Health Reasons
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • Nick Lane Assumes Role As President Of AXA Equitable Life
  • Annuity Sales Spiked 14 Percent In 2018, No Slowdown In Sight
  • Speak Out: NAIC Gets Plenty Of Advice On Annuity Sales Rule
  • Lincoln Financial Introduces Annuity Designed For Retirement Rollover Dollars
  • IRI Urges NAIC To Proceed Cooperatively With SEC On Suitability
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits

  • Kansas GOP Pushes For Cheaper Health Plans That May Not Cover Pre-Existing Conditions
  • A Tax Penalty Could Help Shore Up Obamacare In California
  • Government Headed For Close To Half The Nation’s Health Tab
  • National Health Expenditures To Hit $6T By 2027, CMS Predicts
  • Florida Governor Wants To Import Drugs From Canada
More Health/Employee Benefits

Life Insurance

  • Family Turns To Crowdfunding To Pay For Loved One’s Funeral
  • AM Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating Outlook For Principal Financial
  • AIG Sets New Term Life Insurance Rates
  • Northwestern Mutual Reports Strong 2018 Financial Results
  • Florida Police: Niece Steals $188,000, Life Insurance, From Aunt
Sponsor
More Life Insurance

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.
select Newsletter Options

Most Popular

  • Annuity Sales Spiked 14 Percent In 2018, No Slowdown In Sight
  • Private Equity Targets Insurance Agencies For M&A Activity
  • Understanding The Benefits Of Whole Life Insurance
  • What If The Market Goes Up? Why An FIA Is Better Than Stocks
  • Automation, Big Data Will Drive 2019 Insurance Trends

Featured Offers

Text Ads

Press ReleasesAll press releases

  • LegacyShield® Launches MyTax, An Integrated Solution for Simplified, Professionally Prepared, Tax Returns
  • Nassau Re Launches Insurtech Incubator Will Give Space and Support to Startups in Hartford
  • Peerfit Prepares for Medicare Expansion with Peerfit Move, Recruits Industry Veteran
  • Great American’s Annuity Customers Share Their Secrets to a Great Retirement
  • Securian Financial Introduces Affordable, Protection-Focused IUL with No-Lapse Guarantee
Add your Press Release >

Topics

  • Life Insurance
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property and Casualty News
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Regulation

Top Sections

  • INN Exclusives
  • INN Insider

Our Company

  • About
  • Editorial Staff
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter Google+
© 2019 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • AdvisorNews

Sign in with your INNsider Account

Not registered? Become an INNsider.