Firefighters and paramedics in Colleton County, South Carolina, are celebrating a big win after they were able to save several animals and a homeowner when their mobile home caught fire. The dramatic rescue took place during the morning of July 18, when Colleton County Fire-Rescue was called to the home.
Local NBC News station WCBD News 2 says that smoke was coming out of all sides of the home when they arrived, prompting quick action from the first responders.
While one of the homeowners did end up having to be hospitalized for what appears to have been smoke inhalation, all the pets were removed without incident.
Sadly, it sounds like the home was destroyed by the fire before firefighters could get it under control.
Firefighters Crawled Under the Home to Extinguish the Fire
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It sounds like the fire initially started in the home’s HVAC unit while everyone was still inside the building. Firefighters were able to quickly locate the issue, but not before it had spread under the mobile home. According to the publication, first responders accessed the flames by removing the underpinning before crawling under the home.
In the end, the home’s plumbing, wiring, and flooring had all been damaged in the blaze. Fortunately, the story has a happy ending, and WCBD News 2 reports that the animals are all safe. The homeowner who was suffering from smoke inhalation was taken to the hospital for further medical care, but there doesn’t seem to be any indication that they won’t make a full recovery as well.
It’s Important to Have a Fire Safety Plan for Your Pets
Nobody wants to think that a fire emergency can happen to them, but the American Red Cross says it’s important to protect yourself and your four-legged family members by making sure that you’re including them in any fire rescue plan that you have.
Additionally, the American Red Cross suggests making sure that your animals are somewhere close to the entrance when you’re away from home in the event they have to be rescued in an emergency. The organization also suggests keeping your animal’s collar on and their leash somewhere close to the door to prevent them from getting away if they panic.
Lastly, you can get a pet alert sign for your window that will let first responders know that there are pets at home so that they know to be on the lookout if something should happen.