Three residents escape, two cats die in Geneva Lane fire

Three residents escaped but two cats died in a Monday morning fire in a den and kitchen at a home on West Geneva Lane.

The fire was reported at about 6:36 a.m. at 110 W. Geneva Lane.

The homeowner, Debora Boody, said her mother smelled smoke when she got up to shower in the morning. After she was awakened, Debora Boody went to the den and said it looked black inside, so she opened the den doors and smoke immediately filled the kitchen, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said.

The fire was contained to the den and kitchen, the report said, but there was heavy smoke and heat damage to the rest of the home.

Debora Boody, her mother, and son escaped, but the two family cats were trapped in the home and died of smoke inhalation, the ORFD report said. They were transported from the scene by animal control at the request of the owners.

Debora’s husband Mark Boody returned to the scene from work and said he had left for work at 5:30 a.m., and there had been no problem at that time, the report said. “He had sat in the den reading the paper and having coffee this morning before work,” the report said.

The report said investigators are on the scene trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

The Red Cross responded to the scene and will provide fire aid assistance in the meantime.

Thirteen ORFD employees and three fire engines responded, among others, and so did the chief and deputy chief and Oak Ridge Electric Department.