John Woodrow Cox, Valley News Staff Writer
Valley News (White River Junction, Vermont)

South Royalton, Vermont -- A teenage girl suffered from first-degree burns and smoke inhalation after she rescued three dogs and a cat from her burning home last night, a fire official said.

An official with Gifford Medical Center in Randolph said the girl was in "good" condition as was staying the night for observation.

South Royalton Fire Department Captain Chris Mabey said they received a call about the fire at James and Gloria Kinnarney's home on Happy Hollow Road about 5 p.m. yesterday, though he didn't know who reported it.

Mabey wasn't sure of the girl's name, but he believed she was the Kinnarneys' 15-year-old daughter.

Officials suspected the fire started with the house's woodstove, and by the time fire fighters arrived, the structure was engulfed with flames.

By 8 p.m., the blaze was under control, but Mabey said conditions didn't make the fight an easy one.

"It was windy and the temperature continued to drop as we fought this fire, and ice became a problem," he said. "Nothing to hinder us, but it was a challenge."

About 30 fire fighters from South Royalton, Bethel, Sharon and Tunbridge helped battle the blaze.

Mabey considered the home a total loss, and he didn't know if it was insured or if it had working fire alarms.

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