TORRINGTON - When Chuck and Paula Larson went to visit a sick friend last Wednesday afternoon, little did they know it would be the last time they would see three of their family pets alive.

After a large lightning strike hit their house, a friend called their cell phone, and they hurried home as fast as they could.

"It only took us a matter of about three minutes to get home after we heard the news, but by then the fire department was already there, everything was blocked off, and the house was totally in flames," Paula said.

The mobile home on East K Street was hit by the lightning strike at about 4 p.m.

"We know the lightning hit the east side of the house," said Torrington Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rick Donbraska.

The strike was so large that a flash of the lightning went through a plate glass window at an apartment complex across the street from the Larsons' home.

The Larsons, who had raised miniature dachshunds, had four dogs in the house at the time of the strike, and only a 2-year-old female made it out the doggie door. The Larsons had decided to discontinue raising the dogs recently and had kept two puppies and their parents.

"The male must have run to his safe place on the bed - that's where they found him - and the other two were right by the doggie door," Paula said. "They were afraid of the rain, and I'm wondering if that's a part of why they were still inside. Right after the strike, a neighbor had gone in the front door and tried calling to them, but they were scared and wouldn't go to him."

Torrington, Lingle and Yoder fire departments responded to the blaze, but Paula said the fire traveled fast through the attic, and with 35 mph winds the mobile home was ruined.

The Larsons are currently staying with friends, the Ken Lewis family, and according to Paula are not sure what they'll do next.

"We are devastated and still in shock," Paula added. "Everything is smoke or water damaged - except our papers in the file cabinets, which got charred, but are OK. We were just lucky that we weren't home at the time, because I don't think we would have made it out because it traveled so fast. It's a blessing - we have one little girl (dog) left, and she's real clingy. She just doesn't understand where the other three are."

Friend Debi Surratt said her husband Ron helped the Larsons go through their possessions and doesn't think much is going to be salvageable. Chuck works with Ron on the Union Pacific Railroad, and Paula has her own computer business, which is now gone with the fire.

* A fund has been started at Bank of the West by the city of Torrington for the Chuck and Paula Larson family, whose home was destroyed by a lightning-caused fire.

* Also, the city of Torrington will take good used/new clothing for the couple. According to City Treasurer Lynette Strecker, Paula wears size 16, shoe size 7.5 or 8, and Chuck wears 34/38 pants, large shirt and size 10 shoes.]]->