MIDWAY, GA (WTOC) -
A campground fire in Liberty County late Monday night killed a long time resident and his dog.
Friends of Robert Bullard say the two were inseparable. The loyal golden retriever stuck by his owner's side right on up to the tragic end.
"He was just always there for you," Pamela LaFountain told WTOC. "And Simba his dog was always with him."
LaFountain called Bullard a close friend. For 20 years, he lived at Woodland Lakes Campground.
"Robert was just a great person and a great friend. The kind of person who would do anything for anyone. Where Robert was, Simba was. She visited everybody and everybody knew her name. She would just come up wagging her tail," LaFountain said.
Monday night, LaFountain got a call from a neighbor saying Bullard's camper was on fire.
"He saw the house was already in full blaze when it was discovered," she said. "The house was already pretty much gone by that time. It was a very hot fire that went up fast. Of course we were hoping he was not inside, him or his dog. Unfortunately they both were."
The fire left a path of destruction. Nothing was left unscathed and the cause is still a mystery.
"We still don't know. We are at a loss," LaFountain said. "This is his family here. The whole community is pretty traumatized and will probably be that way for a while."
If there is any comfort for the Woodland Lakes community, Robert did not die alone. His best friend never left his side.
"According to the fire marshall, Simba was right there," LaFountain said. "I didn't see it with my own eyes but from what they said, she was covering him up when they found him."
Friends and neighbors, some from out of state, have volunteered to clean up Bullard's property. A memorial service will be held this weekend.
"Everyone in the neighborhood knew him and everyone knew Simba. It's just horrible. We are all still numb and in shock over the whole thing," LaFountain said.
One thing the fire did not destroy was the bond of loyalty and unconditional love Simba showed her loving owner.
"I just can't describe the loss it is," LaFountain told WTOC, fighting back tears.
The memorial service for Robert Bullard and Simba will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the clubhouse at Woodland Lakes Campground. The public is invited.
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