Family loses home, pets in Saturday night fire

A family of three lost their home, as well as three dogs, to a fast-moving fire that erupted Saturday night.

Located on Wendy Drive, about a mile from the North Carolina border off Highway 29 in the northeastern corner of Cherokee County, a mobile home belonging to the Sheppard family caught fire at about 8:45 p.m.

Chief Glenn Gregory of the Antioch Volunteer Fire Department said firefighters, who were already at the station when the emergency alarm sounded, were able to arrive at the scene within two minutes. They found the home completely engulfed in flames.

There were some tense moments when it initially was believed someone was trapped inside, but the chief said it was quickly determined that all of the occupants were safe and accounted for.

Three dogs did perish in the fire, however.

At least 40 firefighters responded to the scene. Antioch Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by equipment and personnel from Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department, Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department and firefighters from Grover, Cleveland County, N.C.

With no fire hydrants in the area, all of the 4,000 gallons used to extinguish the fire was brought in by the various fire departments' tanker trucks.

(Tim Gulla)