House Fire Traced to Dog’s Electric Blanket

An electric blanket used as a bed for the family dog on a back porch started a fire that caused $375,000 in damage to the house, firefighters said.

Amos Eugene Taylor said he put the blanket in an outdoor box for Dobie, a Doberman pinscher that had refused to sleep indoors since its companion, a dachshund, died last year. Taylor’s son was awakened by a smoke alarm Sunday, and the family escaped the fire unhurt, firefighters said.