A fire on Meandering Lane in the Burkes Mill Pond subdivision last Thursday caused extensive fire and smoke damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the home.
Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad Chief J.D. Clements said the fire occurred around 11:40 a.m. Thursday, after the electricity, which had gone out during Wednesday’s storm, came back on. The homeowner was unaware that she had left the stove on when the electricity went out, he said, and when it was restored, the food she had been cooking ignited.
The homeowner was in the bedroom when the smoke alarm went off, said Clements, and she barricaded herself in there and called for help. Deputies arrived on the scene first and were able to get the dogs out the back door, he said, but they couldn’t find the homeowner.
When the medic unit arrived from Station 1, Lt. Jeffrey Grigsby donned his protective gear, entered the home, and located the homeowner, said Clements. The smoke was so bad that he shared his air supply wit...