ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602080051
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
A family lost two pets Wednesday afternoon when fire broke out at a rental house on Lester Street.
The fire was discovered about 2:40 p.m. when a 12-year-old boy returned home from a neighbor's to get a toy, said Christiansburg Fire Chief Jim Epperly.
The boy returned to the neighbor's house and called the fire department.
The home, located near Depot Street in Cambria, was being rented by Archie Foster, who didn't have insurance, Epperly said.
The chief said the fire was accidental and appears to have started in a closet that had been nailed shut. Exterior damage appeared to be minor, but a dog and cat were killed in the fire.
"It just kind of smoldered and did heat and smoke damage" inside the house, Epperly said.
Foster said he was able to save a lot of his possessions from damage and said he had family he could stay with if necessary.
LENGTH: Short : 29 linesby CNB