Saratoga Aspesi Drive Fire Claims Lives of Pets

Two household pets are believed to have perished in the April 5 fire that partially destroyed a house at 18565 Aspesi Drive in Saratoga.

Santa Clara County Fire Battalion Chief Carol Miller said Friday she believed the animals died during the rapidly moving inferno that engulfed the single-story home in a matter of minutes.

A report issued by the Santa Clara County Fire Department said the blaze had caused $500,000 in property and content losses, and that flames first ignited in the home's living room from a candle, burning a sofa, chair and then spreading to the rest of the property.

Deirdre Dunnion said one of the pets was a King Charles Cavalier puppy who was 12 weeks old.

"The house owners said the puppy and the cat were unaccounted for," Miller said. "We searched the house and to my knowledge we never found them. It was a very heavy fire."

Miller said the fact that they didn't find the animals doesn't mean they weren't inside during the blaze. "According to the owner, they were in the house when the fire occurred, whether or not they escaped, we don't know ... I'm assuming they didn't make it."

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