RICHTER — A family dog alerted a sleeping family to a fire that severely damaged their home at 3236 idaho road near richter early this morning. Brian Jones, Ottawa University professor, said a family German shepherd jumped on a bedroom door to alert his family of the fire. The smoke alarms began sounding shortly after, he said. The family of five fled the house. There were no injuries, except to a family puppy, which died in the fire, he said. The fire appears to have originated at an electrical box in the garage, he said. The fire destroyed an attached garage and damaged four vehicles, as well as the house. The plastic siding on one side of a detached shed was also melted. Firefighters from pomona, lincoln-ottawa-harrison and centropolis fire departments battled the blaze for about three hours. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department estimated the damage to house, vehicles and contents at $400,000. The Red Cross will put his family in a motel for a couple of days while they look at their options and talk to the insurance company.
Tuesday, July 28, 7:30 a.m.; updated 11 a.m.
