Dogs started fire that severely damaged home near Spring Grove, fire chief says

A pet dog apparently started a fire that left a home uninhabitable near Spring Grove on Sunday, officials said.

The fire began when a pet dog or dogs in the house tried to eat a pizza that had been left in a box on the stovetop, Fox Lake Fire Protection District Chief Ed Lescher.

“The investigators were able to determine the knobs on the stove were turned on,” Lescher wrote in an email. “They assume that one or both of the dogs turned the knobs on as they were jumping up to the stove to get to the pizza.”

Two pet dogs died in the blaze that caused significant damage to the home. No human injuries were reported, but the home was deemed uninhabitable.

Lescher said the home is in an area without hydrants, so water had to be shuttled in.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up for the family who lives in the home. Neither the family nor the person sponsoring the fundraiser could be reached for comment Tuesday.