Fire Claims Life Of Police Dog

Fire Claims Life Of Police Dog Phillipston officer's Royalston home burns to the ground

+ click to enlarge News staff photo by Tara Vocino Water from a nearby brook was needed to extinguish the heavy flames at a house on Turnpike Road on Wednesday morning. + click to enlarge News staff photo by Tara Vocino Several units assisted during the two-alarm fire, including Templeton and Phillipston, where a dog died. Tara Vocino Reporter ROYALSTON  A police dog died in a quickly spreading, blazing fire as the house at 224 Turnpike Road was destroyed on Wednesday morning. The log cabin that burned to the ground was home to well-known Phillipston Police Officer Bill Chapman and his wife, Elaine. His bloodhound, Dozer, which his 9-year-old son, Colton, was training, was in the kennel and perished despite several attempts to rescue him. According to Royalston Fire Chief Keith R. Newton, the 5-year-old house is a total loss with only the chimney, the foundation and part of Chapman’s vehicle remaining. He couldn’t say how much the house was worth, but said the two-story house was 40-by-60 with a walk-around porch and kennels. “It was a very sizable two-story log house,” Newton said. “It was a beautiful place, and it was a piece of Heaven.” The house was situated at a high elevation on a steep hill in the woods. Since the area is so remote, there aren’t any hydrants in the area. Crews had to use a nearby brook and tanker for water supply. A neighbor reported the fire at 11:30 a.m., several hours after the fire broke out. Although firefighters had to travel a long distance on icy paths, they were on scene fairly quickly. Other than Dozer, no one was home. Crews battled the flames for about an hour before the fire was under control, he said. A two-alarm fire, 10 police and fire communities assisted, including but not limited to Phillipston, Templeton and several New Hampshire towns. Newton estimated 30 firefighters, police and EMTs were on scene. A representative from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene investigating. Steam was still showing, hours after the flames were extinguished. Newton said firefighters were monitoring the steam well into the day. While the cause is still undetermined, Newton said it doesn’t appear to be suspicious, and there wasn’t anything to indicate arson. He said that two days of high winds, a power outage and electrical issues could have sparked the fire. “When the fire completely consumes the building like this,” Newton said, pointing to the fire, “it’s extremely hard to determine the cause since it’s so involved. It was a couple of hours before anyone saw it. There wasn’t anything that appeared out-of-place, indicating that someone set it. Everything was in-tact. It didn’t look like anything was breached.” Phillipston Police Chief Kevin Dodge noted the department set up a GoFundMe page: GoFundMe.com/BillChapman. Over $14,000 was raised by 148 people in four hours. The Red Cross also extended its services. Dodge said he felt horrible and devastated when he heard the news. “It’s such a horrible tragedy,” Dodge said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his family in the wake of this tragedy.” Newton said upon arrival, there was heavy smoke and fire coming from all ends of the building. The roof had already collapsed. He said there was extensive overhaul with the area flooded with water for miles. While Chapman is full-time with the Phillipston Police, he also works part-time in Royalston and is a canine bloodhound handler/trainer in surrounding communities.