Missing dog later found safe

By Scott Bellile

A town of Lebanon home was destroyed in a fire on Wednesday, June 26.

New London Fire Department was dispatched to N5001 Larry Road at 11:23 a.m. for reports of heavy black smoke coming from the back of the house, according to New London Fire Lt. Jake Dishno.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and smoke on the northwest corner of the house.

The house sustained heavy damage to the first floor. Portions of the floor and roof collapsed.

NLFD returned to the scene at 6:18 p.m. to extinguish a small fire that started in the attic between the house and the attached garage, New London Fire Capt. Don Conat said.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire or injured. Volunteers from the American Red Cross assisted with arranging temporary lodging to the family of seven displaced by the fire.

The fire appears to have started in the back bedroom, but the cause remains unknown.

A dog was reported missing during the fire. Firefighters did not find it in the home.

When NLFD returned that evening, the homeowner told firefighters a neighbor found the dog.

“The dog appeared to be in good health,” Conat said. “It had made it out of the burning house earlier in the day.”

Six area fire departments assisted NLFD: Manawa Rural, Clintonville, Weyauwega Area, Bear Creek, Shiocton-Bovina and Hortonville-Hortonia.