PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — A fire on December 1 destroyed the home of Bill VanGils, a paramedic with Gretna Fire and Rescue.

This left VanGils without his possessions, his two cats, Bam and Yuri, and his firehouse dog, Jayne, who died in the fire.

The blaze occurred around 2 p.m. on Armstrong Road in Penhook.

Gretna Fire and Rescue, along with mutual aid agencies, responded to the call, only to discover the home belonged to VanGils, who was on duty.

Crews arrived to find the house heavily engulfed in flames.

The community has quickly came together to support VanGils during this challenging time.

Donations are being accepted at Gretna Fire and Rescue, 122 East Gretna Road, and Cool Branch Rescue Squad, Smith Mountain Road in Penhook.

A storage building in Union Hall, donated by Mike Turner of Turner Boat Docks, is being used to house donations.

Campers Care, LLC has also provided a camper for VanGils’ temporary living arrangements.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to aid VanGils in his recovery efforts.

Donations can also be mailed to Cool Branch Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 54, Penhook, VA 24137.

Checks should be labeled “Attention Bill VanGils” to ensure proper allocation.

VanGils is in need of clothing and supplies, specifically:

• Large and XL shirts

• Pants size 38×32

• Shoes size 9

To donate online, visit the GoFundMe page here.

The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

The home is a total loss.

Copyright 2024 by Romero Broadcasting System, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, rewritten, or redistributed.