Vet hospital is gutted (Photo: Jim Lennon)
CHESTER – Two dogs died and one was rescued as fire destroyed the
All Pets Veterinary Hospital on Route 17M in the Town of Chester early
Friday morning. The owner of the facility, Dr. Mark Lane, who lived above
the veterinary practice, was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation
and lacerations he suffered when he tried to reenter the building to rescue
his dogs.
It two hours to bring the fire under control, said Fire Chief Robert Favara.
“At the time there were three animals,” Favara said. “One was brought out by the occupant and the other two perished in the fire.”
The building, which was one story in the front and two stories in the rear, was fully involved when firefighters arrived.
Some 80 to 100 firefighters battled the blaze in the approximately 2,200 square foot building. The Chester Fire Department was assisted at the scene by several area fire companies. Mobile Life Support Services and Warwick EMS provided medical services at the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Investigators from the Orange County Fire Investigation Unit were assisted by Town of Chester Police.
