With a wall of flames blocking the front door, Eli Hessler and his 14-year-old daughter safely fled their burning home at Broad and First streets when a massive fire broke out about 2 p.m. Thursday.
Hessler’s wife, Steph, and the couple’s two other children were not home at the time.
Hessler and his family were heartbroken that their three dogs perished in the multiple-alarm blaze that sent up columns of smoke that could be seen six miles away.
“I went back in to try to get the dogs out, but they would not come out, and I couldn’t stay in there,” Hessler said.
His daughter, who name was not provided, was watching television on the first floor and happened to look out when she saw the entire front porch engulfed. She ran upstairs to get her father, who was asleep. He works third shift.