FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Authorities rescued a handful of dogs from a burning home in Fort Lauderdale’s Melrose Park neighborhood Thursday morning, but one of the six pets did not survive the heavy blaze.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews responded to the single-story home near Pennsylvania Avenue and Southwest Sixth Street just after 10 a.m. Upon arrival, they found that homeowner Carlos Sepulveda and his family escaped the flames with two of their pets.
Firefighters worked quickly to bring the fire under control and focused on saving the trapped animals.
Noon report:
“When I opened the door, a lot of smoke hit me in the face. I ran inside to see if I could find out what was happening. I went through the hallway into my son’s bedroom, and it was on fire. I thought I could put it out with a pot or pan of water, but the smoke was overwhelming and it was getting to me.”
Sepulveda was able to save two of his dogs, but four others were still inside. As crews battled the flames, they began searching for the missing pets.
FLFR Firefighter Matty Johnson said he was able to pull one dog from beneath a bed.
“Easily, over 10 minutes … sitting there, trying to get something back, but, just uh … to no avail … it’s unfortunate,” Johnson said.
Firefighters performed CPR on two of the dogs, and they were taken to an animal hospital.
“They were in critical condition when they first found the dogs, but luckily, they’re good. Their lungs are good (and) everything is fine,” said Katherine Munoz, a resident who lost one of her pets in the fire.
Munoz said her 2-year-old French bulldog did not survive.
“Like, if I birthed her, that’s what she was to me,” she said.
Sky 10 footage showed firefighters on the roof cutting through sections, a blue tent set up nearby, and crews actively working at the scene. One firefighter was seen carrying a pink blanket.
The residents, who safely evacuated, are receiving assistance from emergency responders.
The owner of the home told Local 10 News that he believes the started inside one of the bedrooms in his home.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
