Firefighters are being credited with saving a puppy from a Maricopa house fire Tuesday.
According to City of Maricopa Fire Department spokesman Brad Pitassi, crews responded to a report of heavy smoke coming from a home on W. Windmill Drive at about 11 a.m.
When firefighters arrived on scene they found the home with smoke coming from the ends of the roof.
Pitassi said that when crews went inside they were met with high heat and heavy smoke conditions. He said firefighters made a rapid, aggressive search-and-rescue along with a fire attack.
While conducting the primary search firefighters found five family pets. Four had died and one puppy was still alive but in critical condition with smoke inhalation.
Firefighters rescued the dog from the home and along with a Southwest Ambulance crew and Pinal County Animal Control Officers, performed advanced life support on the puppy including CPR, intravenous fluid, assisted it's breathing with oxygen and transported it to the Maricopa Animal Hospital for further treatment.
Tuesday evening, the puppy was in stable condition, removed from oxygen therapy, and was wagging its tail and kissing the hospital staff, according to spokesman Brad Pitassi. The puppy is expected to make a good recovery.
The quick actions of the personnel on scene along with the treatments they provided made the difference in saving this young dog's life, Pitassi said.
He said that crews realize pets are an important part of a family and they make every effort to save them in emergencies like today's fire.
After the original search and rescue was complete fire conditions deteriorated rapidly and crews where forced out of the home due to a partial ceiling collapse, Pitassi said.
Fire crews reevaluated the conditions, reentered the home and continued fire suppression efforts.
Investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen and rapidly spread into the attic.
Fire crews were able to save the home from total loss, Pitassi said.
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