Fire in Jupiter Farms destroys home, kills several animals

JUPITER FARMS, Fla. - At least 15 crew members from the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue battled a house fire in Jupiter Farms, where several animals were killed.

Fire rescue officials say the three people inside the home were not hurt.

Homeowner Paulette Lang says she has lived at 16706 130th Way in Jupiter Farms for about 18 years and has taken in several rescued animals during that time. Fire investigators say her three-bedroom home, which sits on more than an acre of land, is a total loss.

Lang's daughter, grandson and her grandson's girlfriend were home at the time the fire started around 2 a.m. Lang rushed home after she received a call from them informing her the fire had broken out.

While two of her dogs, some pigs, horses, a rooster, some hens and one bird were rescued from the fire, several others were not as lucky. Lang says some birds, a ferret, a snake, a hedgehog and three kittens were lost.  

Two dogs are currently missing and feared dead. Lang says one of her horses had a stroke on Sunday, and she fears for its well-being.

Fire investigators with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue say they had to fight the fire defensively from the outside. Palm Beach American Red Cross volunteers also responded to the scene. The team is helping to coordinate emergency aid.

The Red Cross volunteers are members of the chapter’s Disaster Action Team, a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night, according to an official statement from the Red Cross.

Lang says she also plans to get help from her sister who lives in Tequesta.

Fire investigators suspect a damaged extension cord caused the fire.