PUPPY WAKES FAMILY TO FIRE, BUT DIES AS FIVE PEOPLE EVACUATE

 

 

July 13, 2012 (Spring Valley) --  San Miguel Firefighters responded to a fully involved mobile home fire located in the 10700 block of Jamacha Blvd. Units were dispatched at 8:45 a.m. Thursday and even though the first unit was on scene in 6 minutes, the double wide mobile home could not be saved. In addition to the home, two vehicles were destroyed and another vehicle damaged.

 

Despite the intensity of the flames, no other mobile homes at the Sweetwater Lodge Mobile Home Park were damaged, some as close as 15 feet away.

 

The owner of the mobile home told investigators she was awakened by her pet Chihuahua. Once awake, she smelled smoke, walked into the hallway and saw the kitchen area on fire. She said she tried to pick up the six week old puppy, but it hid under her bed, out of reach. Knowing the fire was growing, she ran to wake her two adult children and two guests spending the night. Family members again tried to rescue the dog that saved them, but because the smoke was getting so thick they had to evacuate. The Chihuahua was adopted by the family just two days ago.

 

The home owner told investigators they did not have a working smoke detector. A working smoke detector could have alerted the family much sooner, and kept damage and loss to a minimum.

 

Of reported fire deaths nationwide, two-thirds are from home fires that did not have working smoke detectors. This tragic outcome should help remind others to make sure their smoke detectors are working. The San Miguel Fire District has a program to provide free smoke detectors for residents facing financial hardships. Residents in need can get more information by calling The District’s Public Information Officer at 619 660-5359.