A house fire in Pueblo, Colorado, ended in both heartbreak and relief after firefighters rushed inside to search for trapped pets, ultimately saving seven puppies and a pet rat.
Even with those rescues, smoke killed two adult dogs and one puppy inside the home.
What happened?
A report that animals were still inside shaped the response to a house fire on Pueblo's north side at about 7:30 p.m. on August 2.
After arriving, firefighters learned that two adult dogs and a litter of puppies were in the house, so crews began an aggressive initial search while also attacking the fire, according to FOX21 News.
After bringing the blaze under control, firefighters removed seven puppies and a pet rat from the house.
Some of the animals that survived needed CPR and supplemental oxygen because of smoke inhalation.
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While no residents or responding personnel were injured, not every pet survived. Smoke was fatal for two dogs and one puppy.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fire. The rescued puppies are now in the care of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
Why does it matter?
Unlike people, pets may hide, become disoriented, or be unable to escape on their own as smoke fills a home.
Firefighters often go beyond protecting structures and people, trying to save animals as well. In this case, that included administering oxygen and performing CPR on the surviving pets.
Smoke inhalation can be just as deadly as the flames themselves. Even when a fire is extinguished quickly, toxic smoke can overwhelm animals trapped indoors.
What's being done?
In Pueblo, crews responded by fighting the fire and searching for the pets said to be inside. That effort saved the surviving puppies, which are now in the care of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
Investigators are still working to determine how the fire started.
The fire ended with seven puppies and a pet rat rescued, but two dogs and one puppy did not survive.
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