Fire damages Holland home, kills two pets

A Holland man returning home from the gym Tuesday morning found his house on fire.

According to Holland Fire Chief Adam Chambers, the couple, Jill and Robert Meiring left the home this morning when Jill headed to work and Robert went to the gym. Robert returned home at around 5:45 a.m. and was unable to open the automatic garage door to the 808 W. Iowa Street residence. He could also hear fire alarms going off in the home. He went to the back of the residence to get in but was thwarted by heavy smoke and intense heat when he opened the door.

The only other occupants of the home were the couple’s two dogs. Responding firefighters retrieved the pets but were unsuccessful in resuscitating them using some recently donated animal rescue oxygen masks. According to Chambers, this was the first time the department had used the new masks.

Firefighters entered the home and found the fire in the basement and master bedroom. They knocked the fire down but the home sustained heavy smoke damage and floor joists in the basement were damaged.

The Meirings are staying with relatives at this time and the home was insured.

Holland responded with three trucks and 16 firefighters and requested help from St. Henry who responded with a truck and 12 firefighters. Firefighters were able to knock the fire down in about a half hour but remained on scene until about 8 a.m. The Holland Town Marshal and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services also assisted.

The Holland Town Marshal and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services also assisted.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help the couple. https://www.gofundme.com/lets-help-robert-jill