An animal perished and a house is a total from a fire in Jefferson.

According to Greene County Dispatch, at 12:15pm a fire was reported at 405 East Perry Street.

Jefferson Fire Chief Randy Love says the house was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on scene.  Love points out that with cold temperatures and high winds gusts there was a possibility that the firefighters could have sustained frostbite and their water lines could freeze.  Neither happened from the incident.

Police Chief Dave Morlan says Jeremy Everle was inside the house at the time the fire started, but got out safely.

Love states that once the flames were extinguished, it was determined that one dog perished in the fire, no humans were hurt and the house was a total loss.  He believes that the cause was from an electrical panel in the corner of the attached garage.  The fire is considered to be accidental.

Morlan notes that Mark Thompson was renting the house from Joel Zehman of Zehman Enterprises who owns the property.

Jefferson Fire and Police departments, Grand Junction Fire Department and the Greene County Emergency Medical Services all responded to the scene.

Update from original report at 1:22pm.