EMERY, Utah (KUTV) — Two volunteer firefighters lost everything in a house fire.
The fire ripped through Scott and Kyla McClaughry’s home on March 31.
The two, who serve as the town’s Volunteer Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief, are not only dealing with the loss of their home, but the heartbreak of losing two of their four dogs in the fire.
Bob, a nine-year-old English Bulldog and Pitbull mix, and Rollie Polie, a one-year-old French Bulldog and Olde English Bulldogge cross, didn’t make it. Their two other dogs, Gu and Sisu, survived.
“We had a doggie door, a fenced yard, and I think the two little ones were just outside sleeping in the sun and the two big guys were just inside napping,” Kyla said.
Kyla said the fire was sparked by a clothes dryer, an often overlooked danger in many homes.
“Lint is incredibly flammable,” she said. “Dryers have the potential to become fire hazards, and if you’re running a dryer and you haven’t checked your lint traps, please stop what you’re doing and go double-check that.”
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The couple is also urging everyone to have smoke detectors in their homes.
“Obviously, we weren’t home to hear them, but making sure that you have them and you’re checking the batteries, so in the event there was a human home, they would’ve known what was going on and be able to respond,” Kyla said.
Kyla said the incident also highlighted the need for more volunteer firefighters in their town.
“Help is needed,” she said. “I’ve had a number of people say that they’re wanting to find a way to join the local fire department. I’ve had some departments that are saying they want to expand their boundaries so they can allow more recruitment.”
The Emery Volunteer Fire Department is a small volunteer department that covers a stretch of I-70. They primarily respond to auto accidents and grass or brush fires, along with protecting the town’s 315 citizens.
“Our next closest station is 15 miles from us, leaving us with significant responsibility and coverage area,” its website states.
In total, the McClaughrys’ home suffered about $150,000 in damages.
A GoFundMe has been created to help them get back on their feet.
If you’d like to help, click here.
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