UPDATE: Two women and dog die in Pittsylvania County fire

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Brosville, Bachelors Hall, Cascade and Tunstall volunteer fire departments responded to a fire call at about 10 a.m. Credit: Steven Mantilla
Brosville, Bachelors Hall, Cascade and Tunstall volunteer fire departments responded to a fire call at about 10 a.m. Officials say two people were killed in the fire at Bennett Street off of Vandola. Credit: Tara Bozick

By: Tara Bozick | GoDanRiver
Published: February 14, 2011

Neighbor Wilbert “Butch” Smith readied the Valentine’s Day gifts for his longtime girlfriend and her aging mother as he knocked on their door Monday morning. No one answered.

He called for his dog that stayed the night inside, hoping the bark would wake them. Nothing.

Smith repeatedly banged on the door until he smelled smoke and noticed one window of the yellow house had blackened. He immediately called the fire department just before 10 a.m.

Brosville firefighters arrived and broke into the house at 265 Bennett St. aware that people might still be inside, according to a Brosville Volunteer Fire Department news release.

The exterior showed no visual fire damage, but firefighters found heavy fire damage in the living room and moderate smoke and heat damage throughout the home. The fire was out by the time they arrived.

Firefighters found 74-year-old Mattie Atkins, 48-year-old Janice Guastaveno and a dog dead inside and turned the scene over to the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, which released the names after notifying family Monday.

The deaths are still under investigation, but the incident appears to be accidental, said Lt. Corey Webb of the sheriff’s office. The Medical Examiners Office in Roanoke will perform autopsies, though it appears the women died of smoke inhalation, he said.

The Pittsylvania County Fire Marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire. Bachelors Hall, Tunstall, Brosville and Cascade volunteer fire departments all responded.

The grieving tears didn’t stop as Smith talked to investigators and neighbors. He had been dating Guastaveno for the past 11 years and had cared for her mother and the home, including making meals, doing yard work and even installing a new roof.

“She was a loving person … ,” he said distraughtly, trailing off.

He stared at the gravy cold on the stove inside his next-door trailer. Smith planned on surprising the women with breakfast. He stared at the chocolates he got for the elderly woman and the talking stuffed teddy bear he got for Guastaveno.

“I’m gonna miss her,” he said, tears streaming down his face.