Dog rescued at Rebecca Lane fire
Published on February 11th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Battling thick smoke, Stoneham firefighters late Saturday morning rescued a family dog from a cellar fire at a new home on Rebecca Lane.
Firefighters were called to 5 Rebecca Lane at 11:24 a.m. when a family member discovered the smoke after returning home and immediately called the fire department.
When firefighters arrived they spotted heavy black smoke emanating from the home and were informed that the family's dog was trapped in the basement.
Firefighters James Marshall, Joe Lupo and Joe Rolli entered the basement, but found visibility difficult due to the thick smoke.
Unable to determine the extent of the fire due to the smoke and since Stoneham's other apparatus was at a medical aid call, Capt. Rolli called for a second alarm which brought Wakefield firefighters to the site.
Through the use of a positive pressure fan, enough of the smoke was cleared and the fire was knocked down within minutes, according to Rolli, who found the scared Doberman curled up in a corner of the boiler room. The dog was at first apprehensive to go with firefighters but after a few quick tugs he followed the firefighters out of the room.
"Once he saw the daylight he became very excited and sprinted out," said Rolli.
Rolli said the origin of the fire was a plastic covering on top of a bumper pool table in the basement. Although the initial cause of the fire had not been determined as of Monday morning, officials were looking into whether an aroma candle on top of the table may have ignited the plastic.
Rolli estimated $50,000 worth of damage to the new home, primarily from the smoke.
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