An off-duty police officer spotted a fire behind Dunrovin Country Store in Vass.
Aberdeen Police Sgt. J. Smith was on his way home from work at 6:30 a.m. Sunday when he drove past the store on U.S. Highway 1 when he noticed heavy smoke coming from behind the building.
He immediately called for assistance and drove around back where he found a home on fire. The resident was safely out of the home when Smith arrived.
The house and SUV are a total loss from the Sunday morning fire. Photos by Sandhills Sentinel contributor Frank Staples.
Efforts to rescue the resident’s 14-year-old Labrador Retriever were unsuccessful. Firefighters later recovered the dog’s body.
The resident suffered injuries and was transported to Firsthealth Moore Regional Hospital in stable condition.
Units from Vass, Southern Pines, and Whispering Pines responded to the structure fire and had the fire under control within a short period of time and were able to contain the fire to the immediate area.
The home is near the aviary housed behind the store. Patrick Milcendeau, owner of Dunrovin, advised Sandhills Sentinel all the birds appeared fine but will be watching them closely for the next 48 hours for any lingering effects from the smoke exposure.
The fire marshal was on the scene and will be investigating the cause of the fire.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Publisher B.J. Goodridge.
