A dog and other pets died as a result of a house fire on Monday, May 6 in Flint Township.
Flint Township firefighters were called out around 12:20 p.m. for a report of a structure fire in the 3200 block of Augusta Street.
Homeowner Kathryn Smith rushed to the house as she watched it burn alongside her son Darryl Hilton, who was inside when the fire began to roar, but eventually escaped. Hilton said he was asleep on the couch watching television when he woke up to the smell of smoke. When he opened the back door, all he could see were flames. His first concern were his family’s pets.
“Fire, fire. There was so much fire,” Hilton said. “I just wanted to save my dogs. I left the door open as I ran out hoping they could find their way out. I don’t know. I’m just so sad I couldn’t find them.”
Crews began to combat flames coming from the garage, which worked its way to the house itself and a vehicle in the driveway.