Family sues fire department for failing to save pets

The DuBois Volunteer fire department is facing a lawsuit from a family who lost everything in a house fire. The family claims that firefighters initially arrived on scene then took too long to make an entry. As a result beloved family pets were lost.

House fire

Fire burning at a house (iStock photo)

The incident took place on April 5, 2014 at about 8pm. Richard Czolo the home owner was working from home in his basement office when the smoke alarms started to go off. His wife and kids were out to a school event.

Police reports indicate he went up stairs and saw his kitchen full engulfed in flames. Smoke and fire was so thick he had to retreat back to the basement and exit the house via a basement escape window.

Mr. Czolo called 911 from his cell phone and waited for fire crews to arrive. Within a few minutes an engine arrived at his house with three firemen aboard.

Tony Moore was one of the firefighters who responded that day. “When we arrived on scene the driver and Joey got started on connecting the engine to the hydrant. I pulled the speed lay and also talked to the resident. He [Mr. Czolo] told me that no people were left in the house he was home alone. We believe in two in two out, so with out any back up and without life in danger we started an exterior attack.”

The DuBois fire department has a hard time getting firefighters to respond to second shift fires. Many firefighters work on at manufacturing facilities outside the city limits in the township on the 3-11 shift. The nature of their work makes it difficult for many members to respond, or slows their response time.

About five minutes after the first engine arrived on scene more firefighters started to arrive at a steady pace. Once additional firefighters were on an interior attack was made.

Firefighters located the family pets, a prized collection of salt-water fish. Water in the fish tanks was boiling and all the exotic marine life was beyond saving.

Mr. Czolo is claiming over $70,000 in damages for the lost fish, some small sharks and the physical tanks with specialty water treatment system. According to lawyers representing Czolo “The fire department failed in their mission to protect life and property by staying outside. The five minutes they waited, like cowards, for more members to arrive should have been used to make a rescue of these help less pets.”

The fire chief was not willing to go on record for this story. He did comment how the safety of human life is more important than anything else on the fire ground

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