SYLACAUGA, Ala. – A nighttime fire in Sylacauga took a harrowing turn when flames threatened four family dogs, but thanks to swift action by the Sylacauga Fire Department, Luna, Dexter, Scootch, and Izzy were safely rescued from the burning home.
Firefighters were dispatched to a single-story residence on S Bolton Ave. last Thursday, Oct. 24, where a car fire in a carport had spread to the house. Upon arrival, crews found the car fully engulfed and approximately 30 percent of the house on fire, with heavy smoke making visibility challenging.
Crews quickly initiated a two-pronged approach: some tackled the flames while Lt. Clay Upchurch entered the smoke-filled home to locate the trapped pets.
Upchurch searched multiple rooms before locating all four dogs in one room, and, one at a time, safely removed two of them. As additional firefighters arrived, Lt. John Bryan joined Upchurch to bring out the final two dogs, all unharmed. One of the dogs had hidden behind a bed but remained calm throughout the rescue.
Chief Nate Osgood and Capt. Jarrod Cunningham commended the crew for their swift, coordinated response.
“From the leadership standpoint, I’m just incredibly proud of my guys,” said Chief Osgood. “Not every call we go on do we get the chance to rescue dogs or rescue people, which is good. The best fire is the one that never happens. The best rescue is the one we never have to affect. When we did get that chance, we hit the gound running. These are the instances that show what we do and what we’re willing to do at any given moment.”
Osgood also noted that recent months have seen an uptick in residential fires, with 19 incidents since August 12. Osgood reminded the community to follow fire safety practices during cooking and decorating as the holiday season approaches.
The Sylacauga Fire Department returned to the station relieved, grateful for the successful rescue of the “fur babies.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
