2 pets dead, 3 firefighters injured after house fire in Montgomery County
A cat and a dog are dead and three firefighters suffered injuries after a house fire in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, officials said.
Barren Hill Volunteer Fire Company shared on social media that around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2026, crews were called to the 700 block of Germantown Pike in Whitemarsh Township after receiving a report of a house fire.
When crews arrived on scene, officials said, they found a large, rapidly spreading fire on the south side of the residence, fueled by winds.
Officials said some crews deployed multiple hose lines to put out the fire, while others gained access to the residence to conduct searches.
The residents were not home at the time and were not injured, officials said. Unfortunately, a dog and a cat perished in the fire.
According to officials, three firefighters were injured during the incident, with two suffering burns during searches of the residence and one suffering a shoulder injury after falling on the ice.
All of them are at home and recovering, officials shared.
“It was a challenging night with a wind-swept fire and below-freezing temperatures. But as always, our Community’s VOLUNTEERS stood tall in the moment,” the Barren Hill Volunteer Fire Company wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbor as they navigate the next steps in their recovery from this house fire.”
The fire remains under investigation by the Whitemarsh Township Fire Marshal’s office.
