CHESTERTOWN — A lightning strike is believed to be the cause of a house fire in the area of Goose Hill on Tuesday night when thunderstorms rolled through Kent County.
A pet dog was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
The animal “apparently is doing well,” Kent County Sheriff Dennis Hickman told The Evening Enterprise in a text message Wednesday.
Hickman was on the scene Tuesday night.
There was no report of injury to bystanders or emergency responders.
About 40 firefighters answered the call and brought the fire under control in 31 minutes, according to a news release from the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
The preliminary estimated loss to the house and contents is $260,000, according to the OSFM’s notice of investigation.
There was “serious damage” to the house due to fire, smoke and heat, according to a post on the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company’s Facebook page.
The dispatch went out at 7:52 p.m. July 8 for a structure fire in the 10000-block of Augustine Herman Highway, north of Chestertown and near the Kent County Gun Club.
No one was home at the time, according to Chestertown Fire Chief John “Otis” Darling. He said passing motorists reported the fire after seeing smoke coming from the house.
The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation lists the owners as Richard Larry Wiltbank and Johnny Dick Wiltbank of Chestertown.
The occupants are members of the Wiltbank family.
Betterton Volunteer Fire Company was first on the scene and reported smoke showing from the eaves of the one-story house.
Shortly thereafter, Chestertown Chief Darling arrived in Command 6, a sport utility vehicle.
According to several accounts, a team effort involving a family member, Darling, firefighters and Sgt. Nick Watson and DFC Levi Manning of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office rescued the dog from inside the house.
Darling credited the 911 dispatchers with doing “a great job getting the necessary resources to the scene.”
The dog was placed in the care of Emergency Medical Services providers.
“Animal CPR was started. An animal oxygen mask, which we carry on our units, was quickly applied, providing high flow oxygen,” according to a post on the Chestertown VFC’s Facebook page. “It didn’t take long before the dog began to revive and begin breathing on it’s [sic] own.”
According to the Chestertown fire company’s Facebook post, Kent County Animal Control was requested to transport the dog to an emergency veterinarian in Delaware. At some point, the transport was discontinued.
In a text message to The Evening Enterprise on Wednesday, Darling said the dog — a 4-year-old female bloodhound mix named Lainey — was “Doing great so far. It’s home and acting normal. They have it at a friend of the family’s house and relaxing.”
In addition to Chestertown and Betterton volunteer fire companies, the following agencies responded to the fire: Galena, Rock Hall, Crumpton and Sudlersville volunteer fire companies, Kent-Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Kent County EMS and the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
The Community Fire Company of Millington responded to the Chestertown firehouse in order to maintain fire and safety protection to the area.
