Fire at Gateway home sends 2 to hospital, kills 2 pets

Two people were transported to the hospital, including one firefighter, for treatment after a fire started at a home in Gateway on Thursday afternoon.

The call for service came in just after 12:30 p.m. in the 12000 block of Green Stone Court in the Stoneybrook community.

Amy Bollen, director of media relations for the South Trail Fire & Rescue District, confirmed the fire to WINK News.

The firefighter suffered minor injuries, was treated at the hospital and then released. The status of the second victim is unknown.

The family dog and guinea pig did not escape.

Smoke poured from the garage of the home and the fire spilled onto a vehicle in the driveway.

“The fire came falling, that’s when I got really scared,” one neighbor named Marli said.

Tom Roller is a friend of the man who was injured.

“I heard an explosion so I stepped out to see. And there were flames and heavy, heavy smoke coming out of the garage. Already at that point, right after the first explosion, I ran over to see if I could do anything,” Roller said.

Roller and other neighbors tried to put out the massive fire with their garden hoses but that didn’t work.

Roller called 911 but his neighbor, the owner of the home ran back inside, hoping to save the family pets.

“He was pretty much in a panic and was trying to get a hose going. He was having problems he had to run back in to try to save the dog, which I understand he did not,” Roller said. “There were multiple explosions.”

“Ee was down on his knees trying to catch his breath from running in and out. And EMS was with him. And they decided to take him to the hospital,” Roller said.

The state fire marshal is investigating.