On Tuesday, a Grand Junction resident lost a dog in a structural fire.

The Grand Junction Fire and Rescue and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fire at 501 9th Street in Grand Junction.

It was discovered that a dog kennel had caught fire that was attached to a garage.  After Grand Junction Firefighters put out the flames, Sheriff Steve Haupert says that a coonhound puppy lost its life in the fire.

Sheriff Haupert believes that the owner of the puppy, Chelsea Herrick placed a heat lamp in the wooden dog kennel and that’s what started the fire.

He says that if you are going to have a heater or an electrical device in a pet house to make sure it is safe from starting anything on fire.

“If you’re going to use those, be checking them daily and several times a day to make sure that materials are not close to the flashpoint for those pets to start something on fire.”

The kennel was reported as a complete loss and minimum damage was done to the garage.