Dog Starts Town of Union Apartment Fire

Investigators say a dog is responsible for starting a fire April 17 at an apartment building in the Town of Union.

Officials were called to the house on Barteau Street at 10:45 p.m. and say they found a black Labrador retriever in distress in the first floor unit.  The dog was revived and authorities say it’s believed the animal started the fire by jumping onto an older-model gas stove, turning it on.

Fire investigators say a woman moving into the apartment had apparently left some boxes on the stove and left the dog alone briefly.

The older stove did not require a knob to be pushed in order for it to be turned on.  When the dog jumped up, the stove turned on and the cardboard boxes ignited.

The fire was contained to the kitchen but minor smoke damage drove the second floor tenants from their apartments for the night.