Family Dog Dies As Firefighters Face Challenges In Elbert County
ELIZABETH, Colo. (CBS4) - A two-alarm house fire in Elbert County caused some big challenges for firefighters Sunday morning. First the crews had problems with the water supply, and then they tried desperately and unsuccessfully to save a family dog.
The fire started before 10 a.m. in a rural area about 5 miles south of Elizabeth off Elbert County Road.
Elizabeth, Franktown and Elbert County firefighters rushed to the scene.
"As we arrived on scene the occupant was out of the house, he was pretty frantic looking for his dog," Kara Gerczynski with the Elizabeth Fire Department said.
Because the area has no fire hydrants, protocol calls for firefighters to set up makeshift pools to get water where it's needed.
"In areas where there are no hydrants we have to bring our own water; we have to set up porta-tanks and tenders go back and forth and drop their water into the porta-tank," Gerczynski said.
Although firefighters put approximately 10,000 gallons of water on the fire within minutes of arrival, for much of the home it was too late.
"This home will probably be a total loss," Gerczynski said.
The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
The family dog died from smoke inhalation.