One dog seriously burned, another dead after Gunn Road fire early Friday
A German Shepherd seriously burned in a fire that leveled a Gunn Road cabin and claimed the life of a second dog early Friday morning, was transported by Antrim first responders to a veterinary hospital in Columbus for treatment.
The dog remained hospitalized at Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center's Hummel & Trueman Hospital for Companion Animals hours after the fire in northern Guernsey County.
"I spoke with a family member this morning who said the dog was not in good shape, but it was still alive," said Antrim Fire Chief Donald Warnock on Friday.
First responders reportedly administered oxygen to the dog and tended to the severe burns while en route to the facility.
Warnock said the German Shepherd was transported to the companion hospital after first responders were unable to locate a local veterinarian who would accept the dog for treatment.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Warnock said he would contact the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office for assistance with the on-going investigation.
According to a dispatch log at the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office, a 911 caller just after midnight Friday reported something nearby was on fire but he was unsure what exactly was on fire.
The caller did advise the dispatcher that it was possibly the neighbor's cabin and the resident's dog pens were right beside the one-story structure. He also advised if it was the neighbor's cabin, he could be at work although he didn't know where he worked.
Approximately a dozen firefighters from the Antrim, Old Washington, Fairview and Liberty departments were dispatched to the scene.
The log indicated some of the structure had collapsed as of 12:13 a.m.
"We were dispatched at 12:06 a.m. to a possible structure fire and we were advised it was unknown if the occupant was still inside," said Warnock. "When we arrived, 90% of the residence was on fire."
It was then firefighters discovered the deceased canine and the badly burned German Shepherd.
The property owner, identified as Adrian Hershberger, later provided a 911 dispatcher with the resident's phone number, but a call to him reportedly went unanswered.
Hershberger was able to provide the placed of employment in Cambridge for the male resident and a city police officer was dispatched to notify him of the fire and injuries to the German Shepherd.
The dog owner requested the sheriff's office attempt to locate a veterinarian to respond to the scene, if possible. When he arrived on the scene he was advised of the decision to transport the dog to Columbus.
Antrim first responders left with the dog at 1:26 a.m., arriving at the facility a little more than an hour later.
Warnock said an emergency medical provider suffered minor injuries when they fell on ice at the scene. No other injuries were reported by firefighters.
Madison Township trustees delivered gravel to the scene to hep fire trucks exit the steep driveway leading to the residence.
At 5:41 a.m., a caller reported the fire at the residence had rekindled.
"There was a very small fire under what was left of the collapsed residence," said Warnock.
The decision to let the fire burn out was made instead of risking a return by fire trucks on the icy driveway made worse by water used to extinguish the initial fire.
No other information was available.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: One dog seriously burned, another dead after Gunn Road fire early Friday
