Occupants alerted to house fire by family dog who perishes in fire
Photo courtesy of Citrus County Fire Rescue.
Citrus County, Florida - At 5:22 pm on Thursday, January 21, Citrus County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a fire at an E. Backner Ln., Inverness residence.
The Engine 8 crew from Highlands Fire Station arrived first on scene at 5:28 pm to find an approximately 1,300 square foot, single story, concrete block stucco home 75% involved with flames showing from the front window and fully involved in the garage. A defensive attack was established.
The occupants safely exited the residence, but reported that their dog was still inside the home. Crews transitioned to an offensive attack. Two firefighters made entry into the home through the front door, located the dog in the front bedroom, removed him from the home and turned him over to Nature Coast EMS for medical care. However, the dog did not survive. Firefighters later assisted the occupants with a backyard burial of their pet. No injuries were reported to firefighters or the home's occupants.
The power was deactivated at the meter box on the side of the home. Several searches confirmed there were no further occupants inside the home. The fire was called under control at 5:45 pm, and crews cleared the scene at 7:25 pm. The power company arrived on scene to secure the meter. The American Red Cross’s information was provided to aid the occupants.
The home's male occupant advised he was asleep in the front bedroom with his dog when the dog alerted him to an electrical burning smell. He got up and discovered heavy smoke in the kitchen area, went to check on the garage, and returned to the kitchen to find it fully engulfed in fire. Both occupants then exited the home.
The vehicle in the garage was a complete loss. Fire personnel assisted the residents with retrieving several personal items from the residence.
Other firestations and personnel that assisted with the fire included Battalion Chief 1, Engine 5 from Hernando, Engine 23 from Kensington, Rescue 7 from Connell Heights, Engine 24 from Floral City, Tanker 20 from Pine Ridge, and a Safety Captain.