A fire heavily damaged the Nacoma Kennels along Strohl Valley Road in Towamensing Township, Carbon County, Wednesday afternoon. The blaze was first reported at 1:46

p.m.as a working dwelling fire. Firefighters en route to the scene were seeing heavy smoke from several miles away. When fire companies from Towamensing and Franklin townships, as well as Aquashicola arrived on scene they found heavy smoke and flames pouring from the kennels adjacent to the owner's home. It was reported most if not all the dogs were rescued from the fast moving flames. Due to the remote location, water had to be tanked into the site. No injuries were reported in the incident. The couple that owns the kennels, Gus Cerino and Shauna Andrews, in the past have been charged with running a puppy mill and have been accused of charges of cruelty to animals by neglect. The couple faced a total of 28 animal cruelty charges when they went before District Judge Bruce Appleton of Palmerton. They were previously ordered by Appleton to pay the township $30,192 for illegally running a puppy mill at their property.