Sparks firefighters save family’s home on Christmas Day

Sparks firefighters save family’s home, holiday

By Jessica Mosebach

jmosebach@sparkstribune.net

Christmas for the Koch family nearly turned completely to ashes, but Sparks firefighters quickly delivered aid and gifts in their time of need.

Before 8 a.m. Monday morning, a fire blazed through the kitchen and most of the first floor of 726 Glenn Martin Dr. Nick Koch, son of renters Sam and Betty Koch, was the only person in the house and was able to escape safely.

“He ran next door to the neighbor and they called 9-1-1,” Betty said.

Fire marshals determined the cause to be an overheated coffee machine.

Nick escaped the house thanks to a smoke detector, in which the battery appeared to have been recently replaced, Capt. Rick Corron said.

“This $10 smoke alarm saved this young man’s life this morning,” Corron said.

He held the smoke alarm in his hands, which had melted into a distorted piece of plastic with an Energizer battery still intact.

Despite being trapped in the house, two dogs, Zeus the husky and Rusty the beagle, survived the blaze.

“The husky slipped off his collar and ran back upstairs,” Betty said. “It was filling up with smoke. (Zeus) was out of it. Rusty was under the bed.”

Both dogs were overcome with smoke inhalation, but Sparks firefighters were able to resuscitate both, thanks to some pet oxygen masks the department purchased a couple of years ago, Capt. Daryl Muzzi said.

The conical pet apparatus are sized to fit any dog snout or even a bird’s beak. Veterinarians use these SurgiVet instruments in animal hospitals, but the fire department found another use for them.

“The (department) secretaries and administrators all kicked in and got about 10 masks,” Muzzi said. “They are very, very effective.”

Later in the afternoon, Zeus appeared happy and healthy again.

Note from H.E.L.P. Animals, inc:

**Sparks FD is part of H.E.L.P. ANIMALS, INC.'S Nationwide Rescue and resuscitative Initiative Team www.helpanimalsinc.org

Christmas Eve: Firefighters help pets breathe easy

Firefighters help pets breathe easy

By PATRICIA STEELE, DAILY SUN

BUSHNELL — It’s heartbreaking for firefighters when they arrive at a fire where family pets are suffering from smoke inhalation, and there is little they can do.

“We have actually tried using human oxygen masks for pets,” Station 11 Shift Commander Rob Hanson said. “But it’s usually not effective.”

At the Bushnell Fire Station on Friday, Linda and Ronnie Graves and Sumter Cremation Services offered solutions to that dilemma.

They have donated 14 sets of oxygen rebreathers to Sumter County Fire Rescue.

“This way, they have one set for each truck, and then two extras,” Ronnie said. “Each set contains three different sizes. Between these three sizes you can save almost any size cat or dog.”

The generosity of the Graveses and Sumter Cremation Services is just overwhelming, said Sumter County Fire Services public information officer Andrea Carlson.

“For many pet owners, their dogs and cats are family members,” Carlson said. “And they are devastated if an animal is injured or lost in a fire. We quite frequently find animals inside during a fire and we do our best to rescue them. These rebreathers will make the rescue much easier.

Sherri Evans, chairwoman of the Sumter County Humane Society/SPCA, brought her Labrador mix, Bailey, and the Sumter Humane Society cat, Abbey, to demonstrate the equipment.

Bailey wasn’t real sure about allowing the cone to cover her nose, but she cooperated so firefighters could see how the cone, hoses and oxygen are connected to work for the animal.

The idea for animal oxygen rebreathers came from a conversation between Sumter County Fire Chief Bill Gulbrandsen and Graves.

“He was wondering if the masks were available and wanted me to check on prices, and such,” Ronnie Graves said. “I found them. Then I talked it over with Linda and we decided to purchase and donate the sets to the fire department.”

The 14 sets retail for approximately $1,400.

“We have talked about purchasing the oxygen rebreathers here in the office,” Rob said. “But when it comes to budgeting items we must have, these would not have been at the top of the list. I’m sure we would have purchased them at some point. Now we have them sooner than later.”

Hanson said the department is pleased to have any equipment that increases an animal’s chance of survival.

Patricia Steele is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 7992, or patricia.steele@thevillagesmedia.com

Firefighters Use Pet Mask To Resuscitate Cat After Fire

Plantation FL masks

Firefighters Use Pet Mask To Resuscitate Cat After Fire

POSTED: 9:38 am EST December 19, 2007

UPDATED: 9:55 am EST December 19, 2007

PLANTATION, Fla. -- Plantation paramedics had to use their pet oxygen mask to help resuscitate a cat found alone in an apartment during an early morning fire, chief Robert Pudney announced today.

The fire, at 320 NW 87th Road, in the Jacaranda Club Apartments, was reported by the upstairs neighbor at approximately 3:45 Wednesday morning.

The caller advised there was heavy smoke coming from the apartment below her. Police and firefighters arrived and could not locate the occupant. While searching the apartment, firefighters found a cat.

The cat was barely breathing and lethargic when paramedics used the specialized pet mask to provide oxygen to the animal. After about five minutes of therapy the cat began to breath normally and became active again.

“This was our third successful use of the pet masks,” stated Pudney. “They are proving to be an invaluable tool.”

The occupant was not home at the time and attempts to reach her were unsuccessful. Fire damage was confined to the single unit. Residents in nearby apartments had to be evacuated for a short period of time but were allowed to return within an hour.

The fire is under investigation.

Copyright 2007 by NBC6.net. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Firefighters Save Puppy After Fayetteville House Fire

Firefighters Save Puppy After Fayetteville House Fire

www. wral.com

Posted: Dec. 16, 2007

Updated: Dec. 16 9:22 p.m.

FAYETTEVILLE — Residents escaped and a lifeless puppy was resuscitated following a house fire in Fayetteville.

The home on Wilma Street caught fire at about 6:32 a.m. Saturday. Seven fire units responded to the blaze. Two adults and three children living inside the home managed to escape but suffered smoke inhalation. They were treated on the scene by EMS personnel.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, they found a puppy inside the burned home. The puppy appeared to not be breathing. Firefighters administered a K-9 oxygen delivery mask.

When the puppy had been on oxygen for about five minutes, his eyes opened. After about 20 minutes of oxygen, the puppy was breathing on his own and was given back to the family.

The K-9 oxygen delivery mask was donated to the Fayetteville Fire Department on Nov. 13 by H.E.L.P. Animals, Inc.

The cause of the fire has not been released.

· Web Editor: Minnie Bridgers

Copyright 2007 by WRAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cats rescued from shelter blaze

Cats rescued from shelter blaze

Article from: Couriermail.com.au

Michael Wray

December 09, 2007 11:00pm

FIREFIGHTERS used oxygen masks to revive five cats after 22 of the trapped animals were rescued from a blaze that ripped through an animal shelter yesterday at Scarborough, east of Brisbane.

Four people who lived at the two-storey timber home escaped unharmed but 12 cats died in the inferno.

"It was not a regular rescue but it worked," Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Brisbane senior operations co-ordinator Ken Freeman said.

The drama began just before 9am when a fire that started on a stove quickly spread, Mr Freeman said.

Stacey Dunbar, 21, who was downstairs at the time, described how she raced upstairs to free about 60 animals from their cages.

They were mostly kittens dumped around Redcliffe which were kept at the home, a temporary shelter for the Peninsula Animal Aid organisation.

As flames and smoke filled the upper level, Ms Dunbar unlocked seven cages but was forced to retreat downstairs.

Up to 40 cats were still inside when four fire engines arrived.

While some of the firefighters battled the blaze, others rescued 22 cats, reviving five with oxygen blown over their noses. Ten were taken to a vet with burns.

Vicki Soper, who owns the house with her partner, Richard Graham, said Ms Dunbar was a "bloody hero".

"I don't care about the house – it's a bloody house – but it's the animals I care about."

Kern County CA firefighters uses masks to save cat

Fire damages single family residence in Hart Flat

By: Sean Collins, KCFD Public Information Officer

Description: KCFD uses special equipment to resuscitate family pet

Hart Flat, CA – On Thursday, December 6th at approximately 02:26 pm, a call was received by the Kern County Fire Department for a structure fire at 27922 Valley Oak Rd. Approximately 40 Kern County Firefighters including academy trainees arrived on scene in quick fashion. The fire was reported by a neighbor who saw smoke coming from an attic vent. A pet cat was given oxygen resuscitation at the scene and survived the fire.

Upon arrival, fire crews were faced with smoke coming from the attic vents of the property. The fire appears to have started in the ground floor laundry room. A quick fire attack ensured that the fire was contained to the area of ignition. It was reported to the crews that the family’s pets were still in the house. A pet cat was found and crews began resuscitation using specially designed masks for use with medical oxygen. KCFD teamed up with Help Animals Inc. to provide assistance to household pets in need of resuscitation and / or oxygen therapy. A set of equipment is available on each frontline Fire Engine. Total damage and contents loss to the property is estimated at $95,000.00.

The cause of the fire is likely to be accidental.

A family dog, and two cats did not survive.

copy and paste in your browser window this link to view video.

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/40786

Puppy Rescued from Fire

Thursday November 15, 2007 7:39pm

Reporter: Shelley Basinger Posted By: Webteam of WSET.COM

Danville, VA - She's already survived a life threatening situation at three months old. Danville Firefighters were able to use a special oxygen mask after her house caught fire. But it's not your typical rescue story. This one has a twist.

She's only three months old, but Princess has already been through a lot! Franklin Robinson says when he first noticed the smoke.

Franklin Robinson, Princess's owner - "I didn't think it was that bad."

But as the fire spread, he realized his little sidekick was missing.

Robinson - “I didn't see her nowhere, and I was so glad when the fireman told me he had her."

She wasn't doing very well, though. A fireman found her under the bed choking from the smoke. Luckily, crews had special oxygen masks on hand.

Paulette Dean, Danville Humane Society - "They are just like the oxygen masks for humans except they come in sizes for animals from mice to huge dogs."

Because whether you've got four legs, or two…

Michael Jefferson, Battalion Chief, EMS and Safety - "They have to have 21 percent oxygen they have to breathe the same as we do."

So they can keep brightening our lives, one nuzzle at a time.

Jefferson - "Especially the elderly community, that's the only people they have, they think of their dogs like a child and they mean as much as a person."

Robinson says he couldn't agree more.

Robinson - "That's the love of my life, yeah she is."

The humane society received the masks through a grant four years ago and passed them out to all area EMS, police and fire vehicles. Fire officials say an overloaded electrical outlet caused the blaze.

To view story, copy and paste in your browser window: http://www.wset.com/news/stories/1107/473122.html

WSET TV 13 LYNCHBURG, VA

Animal Oxygen Masks: Saving Pets

From: Onlyforpetlovers.com

Animal Oxygen Masks: Saving Pets' Lives

Monday, 08 October 2007

http://www.onlyforpetlovers.com/content/view/123/2/

The image of a lifeless family dog, unconscious from smoke inhalation, whose only movement is the occasional twitching of a leg, is strong. But the image of the same dog being resuscitated with custom pet emergency equipment is even stronger. Fire Houses across the country are reaping the benefits of animal oxygen recovery masks, designed to fit over a pet’s mouth and nose while delivering oxygen. These masks can be used on just about any animal from a snake to a Saint Bernard.

The masks, manufactured in New Zealand by McCulloch Medical and purchased from SurgiVet, Inc., have already saved the lives of scores of pets.

Cities, and even entire states, nationwide are realizing the value of an animal life.Daytona Beach, Fla., was the first city in the nation to be fully equipped with the masks and Delaware recently became the first state to carry the masks in every one of their fire stations.

H.E.L.P. Animals Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax deductible, nonprofit and all volunteer organization out of Orange City, Fla., has distributed thousands of masks since their formation in 2003. The acronym H.E.L.P may spell out Health Educate Love Protect but it also spells out their cause.For this small group of women, what began in their hometown quickly moved across the county, then the state and eventually nationwide.

"As a group, we do not rescue, house, foster, picket for causes and hate breeders," said Karen Clark, H.E.L.P Animals Inc. public relations officer. "And absolutely nothing political. We are not professional fundraisers.

"The recovery mask sets, which come complete with three different sizes, can be purchased by anyone from H.E.L.P Animals who agrees to donate them to a municipal rescue agency or charity.

Because H.E.L.P will not send the masks to any commercial business for profit in resale, they have a special pricing of $55 per mask set.

To date, H.E.L.P has distributed over 5,000 mask sets and about 150 large K9 masks for working dogs.

On top of the masks, H.E.L.P supplies donated medical supplies to licensed wildlife rehabbers and animals shelters. They also have a successful free spay and neuter program, low cost pet shot clinics and a service dog fund for those who can’t afford medical help for their service dogs.

Although support and feedback has been mostly positive, the organization has encountered some critics."I have run into a few hardliners, mostly non-pet owners, said Clark. "They used to say that the masks have to go though testing and they might be turned down."

Clark uses NASA to sway critics. "I let them know that USAF/NASA Kennedy Space Center Ground Support has them," said Clark. "They usually change their minds real quick."

As for fire fighters, the donated masks are welcome, with many realizing their great potential, both for the animal lives and owner emotions.

The Coral Gables, Fla., Fire Department cites the heightened sense of smell in cats and dogs as a disadvantage during a fire. It's this heightened sense that makes them even more vulnerable to the effects of smoke, fumes and toxic gases. According to Coral Gables Fire Chief Richard Cook, "Treating pet patients quickly and effectively is key to their survival."Survival is the key word for pet owners across the country. The masks growing popularity indicate how important pets are to their owners today."

There are many times when the pet is the only family that people have," Clark said. "People will risk their own lives to go back in and get their loved ones. I mean all pets, not just cats and dogs." For more information on H.E.L.P Animals Inc. or on how you can contribute visit www.helpanimalsinc.org. Project leader Cheryl Crozier will personally handle the order and can be contacted by e-mail at oxygenmaskorder@helpanimalsinc.org or by calling (386) 479-9700.

H.E.L.P Animal's web site stresses the need for community, volunteer and individual involvement in the program. "Unfortunately, there is no government funding for these programs," their mission statement says. "We will need public support to achieve our goals. Any donation large or small will be appreciated."

By Lalinda De La Fuente

WNBC News Video Clip

http://www.wnbc.com/video/13668127/index.html#

Napa, ID Fire Dept Has First AnimalMask Save

Nampa Fire Department had their first animal rescue with the pet oxygen masks that you worked so hard to get donated.

Thank you, Melissa

Melissa Close

Fire Prevention and Public Education Officer

Nampa Fire Department

1103 Second Street South

Nampa ID 83651

closem@ci.nampa.id.us

(208) 468-5766

Fort Lauderdale firefighters use animal oxygen masks to treat cats trapped in fire.

Annette Townsend panicked as she opened the front door of her Fort Lauderdale home Friday night to a wall of black smoke, fearing the worst for her six cats. read more

Oxygen Mask Donation Helps Save Dog’s Life--

The American Kennel Club® recently announced that Gloucester County Kennel Club (GCKC) of southern New Jersey has been named a recipient of the Community Achievement Award in recognition of its donation of 50 pet oxygen mask kits to ambulance rescue squads in the county. Read the entire article...

NEWLY DONATED MASKS SAVES DOG IN FELTON, DE

On June 19, 2007 at 1257 hours, the Felton Community Fire Company was dispatched to a reported house fire at 5432 Little Mastens Corner Road near Felton. Volunteers from Felton arrived to find a 2 story home with smoke showing. After the fire was knocked down, an unconscious dog was located inside the home. It was covered in soot and barely breathing. Firefighter/EMT Glenn Whitt attempted to revive the pet with a special pet oxygen mask that had been donated recently by the Misipillion Kennel Club in partnership with H.E.L.P. Animals Inc. Within a few minutes of administering the oxygen, the dog began to open its eyes and was soon drinking water from a bowl. The family transported the dog to a veterinarian.

It is a good feeling to know that we (the Delaware State Fire Chiefs Association) were able to facilitate the donation of these masks.

Glenn Whitt-222-0758

Fire Chief Bill Chandler, Felton Community Fire Company-284- 4160

Felton Community Fire Company-284-4800

President Tucker Dempsey, Delaware State Fire Chiefs Association-420-4026

7 Dogs Saved from fire & Revived because of "Red Hat" Mask donation

Dear Kay Pritchett,

I am sure that you have heard on the news by now that we had a serious fire at the Animal Care Center of Suwanee ( Gwinnett County ) on 5/16/07 at about 1:14 a.m. I am sad to report that (12) animals did not survive. They were on the main level of the building where the fire started. However, I am happy to report that firefighters were able to rescue (7) large dogs from a kennel located in the basement. They were overcome by smoke and firefighters used the Animal Oxygen Masks to revive four of the seven. All seven were taken to a nearby animal hospital by Gwinnett Animal Control and it appears that they will be ok. The successful rescue and revival of these canines would not have been possible had it not been for the kind donation of Animal Oxygen Masks made by your group back in December 2006. I can’t begin to thank you enough. Also, if you have any more, please keep us in mind. Please pass this on to the rest of the group.

Sincerely Tommy R.

Lieutenant Thomas Rutledge, PIO

Public Information/Media Officer

Gwinnett County,GA Department of Fire and Emergency Services

tommy.rutledge@gwinnettcounty.com

O-678.518.4824

"SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES"

Kay Pritchette, along with the Red Hat Ladies and the partnership with H.E.L.P. ANIMALS, INC., Fl. made this wonderful donation possible. H.E.L.P. Animals Inc. is a 501c3 Non Profit, Tax Deductible Organization. www.helpanimalsinc.org See it on TV click on link on 11 Alive.com http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=72373&bw=

SPTIMES.COM Blaze damages house

Blaze damages house

By JONATHAN ABEL

Published May 11, 2007

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/11/Northpinellas/Blaze_dama ges_house.shtml

CLEARWATER - No one was home when flames ran through the house at 815 Howard St., but firefighters still had victims demanding oxygen: two dogs and a cat.

Clearwater and Largo fire departments were called to the blaze just before 5 p.m. Thursday. The two-story yellow house was home to four apartment units. A fire started on the second-story porch and spread through the top floor, blackening the insides of two apartments.

As the flames were put out, the firefighters carried three pets from the building. They laid them on the back lawn and gently pressed oxygen masks to the pets' faces.

A scruffy brown dog died and was covered by a yellow tarp.

A Labrador retriever and a black cat survived, with help from the oxygen.

County records show that Gerald and Denise Gentile purchased the house in 2004 for $146, 500. They did not immediately return calls left on their answering machines.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said Clearwater Fire spokeswoman Elizabeth Daly-Watts. The top two apartments suffered "extensive damage," she said, but it was too early to say whether the house would be inhabitable.

As the fire burned, a power line strung to a corner of the house, fell to the street below, causing electricity to flicker in the neighborhood.

Neighbor Jennifer Barber looked out the window of her house and saw the flames. She pulled up a lawn chair and sat in her front yard, watching the fire departments handle the scene.

"If it hit the tree, it could have spread," Barber said. "It's so sad."

© Copyright 2002-2007, St. Petersburg Times

Surprise FD Save Two Cats with Donated MAsks

From: "Current News Releases"

To: gwyn.foro

Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 3:39 PM

Subject: Firefighters save two cats with new animal oxygen masks

SURPRISE, Az. September 11, 2006 Equipped with new oxygen respirators designed to help distressed animals, Surprise firefighters revived two cats trapped by heat and smoke in a Sun City Grand house fire September 8th.

"Our first saves!" said Assistant Surprise Fire Chief Kevin Pool. "They worked perfectly, just as planned," added Fire Chief Michael White.

Firefighters responding to a late night house fire at 20435 N. Kino Drive encountered homeowners who reported that all occupants had escaped the house, but two cats were still inside.

Using thermal imaging cameras, firefighters fought through heavy smoke, high heat and poor visibility to extinguish a kitchen fire, then turned their attention to the missing animals. The cats were found in a bedroom, "limp and not responsive," according to Pool.

After rushing the pets outside, firefighters administered oxygen using a mask designed to fit snugly over the snout of small animals. The cats revived quickly, and were taken for veterinary care by their owners, apparently none the worse for wear.

The 6 "SurgiVet" animal oxygen kits were purchased for the fire department by Surprise City Council member Gwyn Foro this summer. This was their first application at a fire scene.

Surprise AZ FD uses Animal Oxygen MAsks donated by Councilwoman Gwyn Foro

From: Michael White Sent: Mon 9/11/2006 1:07 PM To: Gwyn Foro Cc: Ken Lynch; Jim Rumpeltes; Doug Sandstrom Subject: FW: House Fire cat survive 9-8-2006 Councilmember Foro, please see the attached word document and then view the attached photos. The masks you provided worked perfect! Good timing. Thanks Michael White, Fire Chief Surprise Fire Department Office 623-815-5402 This is the Memo sent to Gwyn Foro: Memorandum

To: Chief Michael White

CC: Asst. Chief Kevin Pool, Asst. Chief Clint Mills

From: Battalion Chief Jackson Bearden Captain Rick Valdez

Date: 9/11/2006

Re: Cats Survive House fire

Chief Michael White

I would like to acknowledge L-302B Move-Up Captain and crew for their excellent job performance on September 8, 2006, at 20435 N. Kino Dr. During the shift, Julie Moore was Move-Up Captain. L-302, along with other units, was dispatched at 22:58 hours to a house fire in SCG. L-302 was first to arrive on scene and reported a residential house with smoke showing.

Command assigned the second company, E-304, to interior along with L-302. E-304 had a Move-Up Captain as well, Jeff Dunham. E-304 was directed to secure a water supply, pull a second hand line and assist interior. As L-302 approached the house, the home owner reported to them “that all occupants had made it outside, but their two cats were left inside.” L-302 and E- 304 made entry into the home, which was completely charged with smoke, heat, and poor visibility. With the thermal imager in hand, L- 302 and E-304 started their search. Units quickly found the source of the fire, which appeared to be the dishwasher in the kitchen. Interior crews quickly extinguished the fire. No extension was found and a secondary search was conducted. The ladder crew members located the cats in the bedroom of the home. L-302 exited the structure with the two cats. They met E-102 crew outside who assisted L-302. The Surprise Firefighters applied the emergency animal respirator with oxygen flow to the distressed cats. The cats quickly came to, and the homeowners took the animals to their vets.

P.S. Chief, we have pictures attached with the crews using the animal respirators at the fire.

Florida Firefighters Help Save Family

JENNIFER SMITH / PIO

(Reprinted by permission)

EDGEWATER, Fla. - On June 19, Edgewater Fire-Rescue's Engine 57 was dispatched to a home on Victory Palm Drive in the Florida Shores neighborhood for an unresponsive patient at approximately 6:30 pm.

Lt. Jim Jollie, Firefighter/Paramedic Dennis Meeske and Firefighter/EMT John Halcomb responded to the call. As with every emergency call, the guys had little information to go by, and were ready for whatever they might find.

Upon arrival, the crew grabbed their equipment and rushed into the house of Virginia Nevard. The family quickly rushed the responders to a bedroom where they found little Molly breathing 60 times a minute, unresponsive and unconscious.

Molly, however, was not the patient they expected to find. Unconscious she was, but human she was not. A functional part of the Nevard family, Molly was a 12-year-old Dalmatian. She had gotten into a plastic donut bag to munch on what was inside, but had apparently gotten her head caught in the bag in the process. In a panic, 7-year-old Kyle Nevard called 911 but then hung up. Law enforcement and rescue were dispatched to the address because of the 911 disconnect.

Hardly thrown off track, the firefighters went about their routine and pulled out their oxygen bottle, then rushed out to the truck to grab a specially designed respiratory mask for dogs.

They applied high-flow oxygen to the mask and placed it over Molly?s snout. Before too long, Molly became conscious and began moving her eyes. She was still breathing fast but she was starting to come around as Jollie and his crew talked to the dog, trying to keep her alert.

Meanwhile, the family contacted an emergency veterinary clinic in Daytona Beach. Equipped with the oxygen bottle and breathing mask from EFR, Molly was taken by her family to the clinic.

Just over a week later, Molly and her people came by the station to thank the firefighters for helping to save her life.

The respiratory masks were donated to Edgewater Fire-Rescue in 2004 from H.E.L.P. Animals, Inc., which is a tax-deductible organization based in Orange City. Each fire station in Volusia County received a set of the masks.

Daytona Beach Fire Department uses masks sucessfully

Below is the Official Press release from theInformation related to the video is here:

Daytona Beach 8/17/2005 1540 HRS. Joshua Moniz and Shannon Sexton, two residents of 337 Palmetto Av., flagged down firefighters who were Leaving city hall to inform them of a house fire several doors away. Joshua, age 25, proceeded to enter the smoke filled home located at 341 S. Palmetto Av. to search for the two dogs he cares for while his neighbor is at work. While firefighters donned their protective gear Joshua located Jose' an 8 year old mixed breed dog and brought him out to safety.

Firefighters Christopher Hughes and John Garcia stated that there was zero visibility due to the thick black smoke but they were able to locate and rescue the second dog, Shakira, with the help of the department's electronic thermal imaging device. The rescue team turned the 5 month old puppy over to Paramedic Driver Engineer Chris Lemmond and Driver Engineer Evan Schantz for treatment.

The puppy was not breathing when it was found but DE Lemmond performed mouth to snout rescue breathing and firefighters quickly hooked up to the animal rescue oxygen masks donated to the fire department by http://www.helpanimalsinc.org/ . Firefighters and neighbors gave both dogs cool water to drink and a neighbor is currently taking care of the dogs until their owner can have them seen by a veterinarian.

Firefighters quickly put out the fire that was located in a bedroom and set up exhaust fans to remove the smoke. The resident of the home was at work at the time of this fire. Investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Daytona Beach Fire Department have determined that the fire was caused by an electrical short most likely due to an overloaded Multi-plug adapter plugged into an electrical outlet. There were no human Injuries at this incident. John

M. King PIO 386.671.4006 cell 386.679.5920

Lieutenant Daytona Beach Fire Department www.dbfd.us

Public Information & Community Education Officer

Firefighters Help Save Family

Firefighters Help Save Family's Dalmatian

By JENNIFER SMITH Senior Correspondent

EDGEWATER, FL - On June 19, 2005 Edgewater Fire-Rescue’s Engine 57 was dispatched to a home on Victory Palm Drive in the Florida Shores neighborhood for an unresponsive patient at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Lt. Jim Jollie, Firefighter/Paramedic Dennis Meeske and Firefighter/EMT John Halcomb responded to the call. As with every emergency call, the guys had little information to go by, and were ready for whatever they might find.

Upon arrival, the crew grabbed their equipment and rushed into the house of Virginia Nevard. The family quickly rushed the responders to a bedroom where they found little Molly breathing 60 times a minute, unresponsive and unconscious.

Molly, however, was not the patient they expected to find. Unconscious she was, but human she was not. A functional part of the Nevard family, Molly was a 12-year-old Dalmatian. She had gotten into a plastic donut bag to munch on what was inside, but had apparently gotten her head caught in the bag in the process. In a panic, 7-year-old Kyle Nevard called 911 but then hung up. Law enforcement and rescue were dispatched to the address because of the 911 disconnect.

Hardly thrown off track, the firefighters went about their routine and pulled out their oxygen bottle, then rushed out to the truck to grab a specially designed respiratory mask for dogs.

They applied high-flow oxygen to the mask and placed it over Molly’s snout. Before too long, Molly became conscious and began moving her eyes. She was still breathing fast but she was starting to come around as Jollie and his crew talked to the dog, trying to keep her alert.

Meanwhile, the family contacted an emergency veterinary clinic in Daytona Beach. Equipped with the oxygen bottle and breathing mask from EFR, Molly was taken by her family to the clinic.

Just over a week later, Molly and her family came by the station to thank the firefighters for helping to save her life.

The respiratory masks were donated to Edgewater Fire-Rescue in 2004 from H.E.L.P. Animals, Inc., which is a tax-deductible organization based in Orange City. Each fire station in Volusia County received a set of the masks.