Family ‘Lost Everything’ In Fatal Fire In Cheshire, Community Rallies Support

CHESHIRE, CT — The community is rallying around the family of a local veterinarian after a devastating house fire killed his son and at least one dog earlier this week in Cheshire.

Police identified the man killed in Tuesday’s house fire on Brookside Place as 32-year-old Zackary Naoumides, whose body was found among the debris along with a dog.

Alyssa Naoumides told the New Haven Register that her brother, Zackary, died in the fire and their father Nicholas Nauomides was able to escape.

The Register reported that the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner found that Zackary Naoumides died of smoke inhalation and ruled his death was accidental.

Alyssa Naoumides wrote in a post on Facebook that her father, known as “Dr. Nick,” is the owner of Heritage Animal Hospital in Wallingford, and Zackary was the only employee at the hospital.

She said that her brother’s beloved dog “Paige” was found dead next to him, while their dog “Lucy” hasn’t been found.

“We know it's highly likely she perished in the fire but on the off chance she escaped, please keep an eye out for her,” Alyssa Naoumides wrote in a post on Facebook. “We have lost everything and it would mean the world for us to find her alive.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family with medical and funeral expenses.

The fire broke out around 3 a.m. on Aug. 12, and fire officials described the house as a “total loss” and said there was a collapse in the back of the home.

“My father miraculously made it out by jumping off the roof and is currently hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning but it looks like he will survive,” Alyssa Naoumides wrote on the GoFundMe page. “However, my brother and their dogs unfortunately perished in the catastrophic flames that engulfed the entire home.

“The detectives confirmed that they found Zack and Paige's bodies. They said Paige was right next to him and that broke me. Paige was abused and my brother was HER person. She loved him unconditionally and used to protect him like no other. She stayed at his side until the very end. Detectives felt Zack died trying to go back and save Paige. It's heartbreaking but I am finding the smallest comfort that they had each other in the end. We don't deserve dogs.”

Alyssa Naoumides said her father has “lost everything including the clothes on his back.”

“He is the sole owner of Heritage Animal Hospital and is currently without income, facing huge medical bills, and lost both his son, dogs, and all his worldly possessions,” Alyssa Naoumides wrote. “We are currently trying to give my brother a proper funeral during this horrific time. Any extra funds will go to my father directly to help him pay his medical bills and start trying to put the ashes of his life back together.

“I am overwhelmed by the kindness of friends and the community who have asked me how they can help. The kindness of our loved ones and the community is the only thing that has kept us going during this heartbreaking time.”

Nearly $13,000 has been raised within the first day of the GoFundMe campaign.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here.