A number of dogs are dead after smoke and flames gutted a home and dog breeding business near the New Brunswick and Maine border Saturday afternoon.
A passing motorist reported the fire after seeing black smoke coming from the North Lake home around 1 p.m.
“We knew there was nobody at home,” says North Lake Fire Department Chief Roy Acott. “But we were also aware in this neighborhood that she had a large number of dogs and had a kennel in there.”
Firefighters say they determined early on that it was not safe to enter the burning building due to concerns of the floors collapsing.
The woman who ran the breeding business told firefighters there were about 20 dogs inside, a combination of adult dogs and puppies.
Fire officials say they did not hear any dogs barking when they first arrived at the scene.
The motorist who discovered the fire also says he heard nothing.
“With respect to the dogs,” says Acott. “I think the dogs died of smoke inhalation very soon after the fire started.”
Officials say they believe the fire began in the kitchen, but they are not sure exactly how and are continuing to investigate.
The Red Cross is offering assistance to the family of three who lived in the home. .
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
