Family dogs die in fire

Brandon Skocilich crumpled when he heard the news. His two dogs, Roxy and Hunter, were dead.

On Friday, Skocilich’s father, Rick Skocilich, came home from work just after 2 p.m. and saw water streaming out the front door of his home at 927 E. 38th Ave.

When he opened the door, smoke enveloped him. He entered the house and found the family’s three dogs dead from apparent smoke inhalation.

“That’s my baby, man,” he said of his dog, Bella. “They’re all dead now.”

Rick Skocilich, who works at Goodwill, said he went into the house four times. Despite an injured shoulder and the smoke, he carried all three dogs out. He found two dogs in the bedroom and one in the kitchen. The fire seemed to have started in the kitchen.

A firefighter told Skocilich that his basement was full of water, possibly due to burst pipes.

Brandon Skocilich said he rescued Hunter three years ago and Roxy six and a half years ago.

Skocilich lives in the one-story home, which was built in 1932, with his girlfriend and his 3-year-old son as well as with his father. He heard the news while at a friend’s home. By the time he arrived, the dogs were already removed from the house and the fire was contained.

“We had them put in the backyard to bury them,” Skocilich said.

Rick Skocilich said he lost power for four days during the recent windstorm. However, the house had power since Saturday.

Battalion Chief Joel Fielder said the fire may have started close to a stove in the house, although the department was still investigating. He said the dogs likely died from smoke inhalation.

“They’re family, man,” Skocilich said. “They are part of our family.”