3 dogs dead after fire destroys East Bridgewater home

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EAST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Three dogs are dead after flames engulfed and destroyed a home in East Bridgewater early Tuesday morning.

“A passerby saw flames coming from the house, and called 911,” East Bridgewater Fire Chief Timothy Harhen said. “Police and an ambulance EMT both kicked in a rear door. The fire department was notified, we arrived and began an offensive attack.”

When fire crews arrived, the left side of the home and the garage on Whitman Street were fully engulfed in flames.

The fire was called in around 1 a.m. and it took crews about half an hour to get the flames under control, according to Harhen.

Harhen noted that a married couple lives in the home but was at work at the time the fire broke out.

The homeowner told Boston 25 News that firefighters told him his three dogs died of smoke inhalation.

The homeowner said he believes he and his wife would have been killed had they been home when the fire broke out. He said they both work the night shift at a nursing home about a mile down the road.

The family has lived in the home for 30 years and raised their children there, the homeowner added.

The house, with an estimated value of $450,000, is a total loss, according to Harhen.

The American Red Cross also responded to assist the displaced residents.

The State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting the East Bridgewater Fire Department with an investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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