Dog saves family, but dies in fire

KITCHENER (Dec 2, 2005)

The family dog that alerted a Kitchener mother to a fire yesterday morning died in the $200,000 blaze, fire officials said.

A parrot also died in the fire at 121 Stirling Ave. N., near Simeon Street in downtown Kitchener, acting Platoon Chief Blake Barnard said.

The fire was reported at about 6:15 a.m.

A woman sleeping in her third-floor loft bedroom woke up when she heard her sheltie scratching at the door, said Platoon Chief Ron Taves.

When she realized there was smoke in the room, she crawled downstairs to rouse her 13-year-old daughter. The girl was asleep behind a closed door, so there was little smoke in her room.

Because there was fire on the main floor, the pair followed their fire escape plan and got out from the second-floor balcony, where they had a ladder set up.

Some neighbours rushed to help them down the ladder, which had been stuck, Taves said.

The mother and daughter weren't injured, but the dog suffered from smoke inhalation. A firefighter tried to resuscitate the dog, but the pet didn't survive, Taves said.

The fire caused extensive damage to the interior of the house. Damage is estimated at $120,000 to the house and $80,000 to its contents, Barnard said.

An electrical problem is suspected of causing the fire. The smoke detector wasn't working.