Dog Hurt in Motorhome Fire Near Hemet

A fire destroyed a mobile home in Hemet on Thursday, taking the life of the owners’ dog and leaving their other canine severely injured.

The blaze erupted about 8:25 a.m. near the intersection of Cornell Street and Stetson Avenue, in a community known as Little Lake, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

A couple were preparing to drive the coach to a different location when flames spurt out of the engine compartment and quickly spread to the rest of the motorhome, according to reports from the scene.

The victims were able to escape the inferno with their pit bull, “Pinky,” but could not reach their other dog, said county Department of Animal Services spokesman John Welsh.

“Pinky survives,” he said. “Tragically, she has burns to over 20 percent of her body.”

According to Welsh, the canine is under veterinary care at the county’s San Jacinto animal shelter.

“We are treating her burns,” he said. “We have also tipped off some of our major rescue partners to possibly assist the couple with future vet care needs.”

County fire crews knocked the fire down within 20 minutes, but the RV was a total loss, according to published reports. A nearby Comcast cable pole also was damaged.

According to a fire department spokeswoman, American Red Cross personnel were assisting the now-homeless couple.

--City News Service, photos courtesy of the Riverside County Animal Services