A house fire on Collierstown Road Thursday evening destroyed a residence and left one dog dead, according to Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue officials.
Crews were dispatched at 5:34 p.m. to 495 Collierstown Road, where the Lexington Fire Department arrived first and encountered heavy fire coming from the rear of the structure. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, which ultimately resulted in a total loss of the home.
No people were inside the residence at the time of the fire, but one dog was found deceased. The American Red Cross is assisting the family of four who lived in the home with immediate needs.
The fire was ruled unintentional and appears to have been caused by an improperly discarded cigarette, officials said.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including Lexington, Effinger, Kerrs Creek, Buena Vista, Natural Bridge, Rockbridge Baths and Glasgow units, along with the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and VMI EMS, which provided rehabilitation support for crews.
Responders cleared the scene at approximately 8 p.m.
