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Firefighters Rescue Dog, Contain Fire To One Unit
Donations are being sought to help a woman displaced by an apartment house fire north of Lexington Saturday afternoon.
The fire at Willow Springs Apartments was contained to one unit, although the residents in nine other units were temporarily displaced due to smoke and water damage.
Barbara J. Fontaine, who lived in the unit, was not home when the fire began in her kitchen – she had been in the hospital -- but firefighters were able to rescue her dog from the unit. She and her pet received living arrangement help from the American Red Cross as crews finished their work at the scene.
The 911 center received reports of an apartment fire around 3 p.m. Saturday, and the Lexington Fire Department arrived to find flames in the kitchen of a single unit. The fire originated from a stovetop, according to Rockbridge County Fire Chief Nathan Ramsey. Fontaine told The News-Gazette in a phone call that she’s been told the specific cause is “undetermined.”
Although residents of surrounding apartments, who were evacuated in the wake of the blaze, were able to return once repairs and cleaning were completed, Fontaine said that her home is a “total loss,” and that she’s currently temporarily housed at the Holiday Inn Express.
Fairfield resident Amy Moore is helping to organize donations for Fontaine, and she says that people wanting to donate clothing and money can drop donations off at her shop, Heritage Millwork & Cabinetry, at 40 Woodwork Trail in Fairfield. Requested clothing includes size 16 pants, size 1X shirts, size 7.5 shoes, winter hat and gloves. Her Dachshund needs sweaters and a doggie bed.
Fontaine said that she wanted to express gratitude to the firefighters and to her neighbors, who helped her in the wake of her loss and displacement.
Crews from Kerrs Creek, Buena Vista, Rockbridge Baths, and Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue assisted in extinguishing the blaze, according to Capt. Justin Hines with Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue.
