House fire in Pueblo kills three dogs, neighbors and firefighters help save eight remaining pets
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Three dogs died and eight other pets were rescued after an accidental kitchen fire in Pueblo.
The Pueblo Fire Department (PFD) responded to a structure fire in the Pueblo Grande community yesterday, Aug. 2, around 7:30 p.m. PFD said that upon arrival, fire crews were notified that two adult dogs and a litter of puppies were inside the home, and an aggressive primary search was initiated along with a coordinated fire attack.
PFD said the fire was quickly extinguished, and search crews managed to save seven puppies and a pet rat in a cage, with some receiving CPR and supplemental oxygen for smoke inhalation.
The two adult dogs and one puppy died due to the smoke, but no injuries were reported to any humans or responding personnel, according to PFD.
Before PFD arrived on scene, neighbors rallied together to do what they could to stop the fire and save the animals.
“I came out of the house, and the smoke was pretty heavy," said John Schaefer, a neighbor on the block.
Neighbors told KRDO13 they heard the loud whimpering of the puppies trapped inside.
“The two neighbors were using fire hoses to attempt to put the fire out. They didn’t go in the building. They just tried from the porch,” Schaefer said.
Neighbors even busted some windows out of the home. One neighbor covered his mouth and went inside to help save some of the animals. He told KRDO13 he was able to grab the cage of puppies and drag them out to the porch.
PFD said no one was home at the time of the fire.
When the homeowner arrived to learn her two adult dogs and one of the puppies died in the smoke, Schaefer described just how upset she was. She took to Facebook, writing that she saw these dogs as her family.
“She either fainted here or just laid down on the road," Schaefer said. "It’s hard to understand what was going through her mind.”
PFD told KRDO13 the cause was an accidental fire in the kitchen that started near the stove. PFD also said the home is no longer inhabitable due to the fire and smoke damage inside.
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region told KRDO13 the puppies were brought to an emergency room where they are receiving treatment, but their current condition is unknown.
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