Family safe following Bainbridge house fire

Flames and smoke show from a house fire at 106 E. Depot St. in Bainbridge Thursday morning. All residents of the home made it out safely.

Courtesy Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department

BAINBRIDGE — Two dogs were lost but a family of seven is safe following a fire Thursday morning.

The Bainbridge Fire Department and multiple other fire departments were able to contain the fire at 106 E. Depot St. to two upstairs rooms and the attic. The first floor sustained smoke and water damage.

The home is the residence of the Jesus and Tara Pagan family.

According to Bainbridge Fire Chief Kevin Thorson, the two adults had left around 4 a.m. and one of the five minors in the home noticed the power shut off due to the fire.

All five made it out safely.

The Bainbridge Fire Department was dispatched at 6:31 a.m. and a box alarm, calling for help from all nearby departments, was established shortly thereafter.

The crew on a Bainbridge engine arrived to find smoke showing from the attic.

Firefighters contained the blaze while also attempting to save as many of the family’s 11 pets as possible.

Ultimately, two dogs succumbed to the fire, while three cats were still missing as of 8:30 a.m. Two birds, two guinea pigs, one cat and one potbelly pig survived.

The property is owned by Brent and Pamela Foltz.

Other fire departments on the scene included Roachdale, Clinton Township, Greencastle and Bellmore.

Putnam County EMS was also at the scene, though its services were fortunately not needed. The Bainbridge Police Department and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office also provided traffic control.

By 9:30 a.m., all fire departments had left the scene and 1-800-BOARDUP had arrived for emergency cleanup and restoration.

Thorson said the fire remains under investigation, though investigators are leaning toward an electrical issue as the cause.