A wheelchair-bound Brooklyn Park man is alive this morning after functioning smoke alarms alerted him to the presence of a fire in his home, giving him time to escape.
At approximately 3 a.m.Wednesday,firefighters were called to #223 Meadow Road for a dwelling fire. They found a dwelling with heavy fire showing from the first floor front window. Firefighters also found the homeowner in the rear alleyway in his wheel chair. The man told firefighters that he was able to escape with his dog but that his cat was still inside.
Firefighters, who were already in the process of working to extinguish the fire, commenced a search of the residence and found the cat that was burned but still alive and suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.
Firefighters removed the cat from the home and paramedics on the scene used a pet oxygen mask carried on the apparatus to give the cat supplemental oxygen, reviving the animal.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental as a result of careless smoking. Damage to the home has been set at $80,000.00. The Red Cross is assisting the man and his pets.
Chief John Robert Ray cautioned citizens to be careful when using smoking products. "This could have been a terrible tragedy were it not for the functioning smoke alarms. There are several educational messages in this story including the importance of not attempting to re-enter a home to save a pet. Although we realize that people view their pets at family members, they should never risk their lives to save one. I am genuinely pleased that this story has a happy ending and congratulate our firefighters who did an outstanding job in containing the fire quickly."
The pet oxygen masks are provided on all Anne Arundel County fire apparatus through the generous work of Maury and Lynn Chaput, owners of Canine Fitness Center in Crownsville.
