Lynchburg fire damages home, kills family pets

A Saturday morning fire displaced a Lynchburg family, severely damaged their house and killed several pet gerbils.

Lynchburg Fire Battalion Chief Paul Kilgore said emergency dispatchers received the call to 416 Victoria Ave. at 10:31 a.m.

The source of the fire was difficult to find, and took firefighters about 15 minutes to control, he said.

The damage was not major, but extensive.

“It’s an older house, it’s built well, so structurally I think it’ll be able to be rebuilt,” Kilgore said, estimating at least $50,000 in damage to the structure.

The fire likely started in an upstairs room at the rear of the house, he said.

Investigators didn’t know the cause Saturday evening, but did not believe the blaze was set intentionally.

Kilgore said the family didn’t notice the fire immediately.

“They only smelled it when they were outside, and didn’t assume that it was something involving their house,” he said.

Kilgore said the family owned three cats, a couple of birds and “a host of gerbils.”

Firefighters saved the birds, two of the cats and some of the gerbils. Kilgore said the other cat was never found.

The historic Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family with lodging and necessities.