In the early morning darkness, Aaron Griffin and his 11-year-old son Evan ran from their Route 414 farmhouse with only the clothes they were wearing.
An electrical fire broke out around 2 a.m. Jan. 27, forcing them to flee their home in the Town of Fayette. The fire destroyed the house and left it a total loss.
Both Aaron and Evan escaped without injuries. They also managed to get one of their dogs, a Blue Heeler named Tilly, out of the house safely.
Their Great Pyrenees, Layla, remains missing. Family members believe she may have run off during the chaos and hope she sought shelter at a nearby Amish farm and will return on her own.
Anyone in the area is asked to keep an eye out for a loud, skittish Great Pyrenees. Those who regularly communicate with the Amish community are encouraged to spread the word. If Layla is spotted, people are asked to contact Aaron Griffin or a woman at Double L Farms who has his phone number.
Firefighters from across Seneca County rushed to the scene along Route 414 near Marsh Road as the fire burned early that morning.
Departments from Fayette, Border City, Ovid, Romulus, Waterloo, Canoga, Varick, Junius, and Interlaken responded, along with North Seneca Ambulance. A tanker task force also assisted as crews worked the active structure fire.
Romulus Fire Department crews arrived and began getting water on the fire as additional units continued responding. Lodi firefighters stood by at the Romulus station during the incident.
Officials have not released information about injuries, damage, or the cause of the fire.
In the aftermath, Courtney Griffin has launched a fundraising effort to help her brother and nephew replace what they lost and begin moving forward. Donations will also be coordinated with the thrift shop at the Ovid Federated Church to support the family during recovery.
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