Fire Marshal Rules Newfoundland Dog Caused Laurel Gardens House Fire

A large Newfoundland's curiosity is likely the cause of , according to Ross Township Fire Marshal John Reubi. 

A joint investigation by his office and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office determined that the fire started in the kitchen of the 1933 two-story frame house at 201 Sixth Ave. after the center burner on the stove was turned on and left on for several hours. 

Reubi said he believes the homeowner's 125-pound Newfoundland dog might have been the culprit. 

The homeowner, Robert Mullinary, told investigators he rarely used the stove and had left that day for work at about 1:30 p.m. after making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. His dog, Sweet Pea, was known for reaching onto countertops in search of food. 

"We know the origin," Reubi said. "At this point, we're going to blame the dog." 

Sweet Pea died in the fire, and his body was found later in the dining room. The cause of death is believed to be smoke inhalation.

Reubi said the fire burned inside the house for a minimum of three hours before firefighters were dispatched to the home at 8:10 p.m. that night. 

"It wasn't going to be saved," he said. 

Chief Ray Hillenbrand said the firefighters tried to fight the fire from the inside, but he pulled them back once the flames reached the roof. 

and a volunteer firefighter who has served the  and the , said he listened to the call that night on the scanner and believes the fire was handled appropriately.

"As a former fire chief, I didn't see where there was an issue," he said. "They did what they were supposed to do." 

Reubi, who was second to arrive at the scene after the chief, said firefighters discovered two large holes in the second floor after extinguishing the fire. Given the interior damage already sustained during the long burn of the fire, he said the firefighters would have risked harm had they continued fighting it from the inside.

"It really was a good thing," he said of Hillenbrand's decision. "It was lost already."

A Perrysville volunteer firefighter was injured in the attack. He was treated at a local hospital for a wrist injury and sent home that night. 

The Red Cross is helping the homeowner. Reubi said the foundation of the home was undamaged. 

"It's a good possibility that they can (rebuild) off the existing foundation," he said.