Firefighters Welcome Family Home Six Months After Devastating Fire
postedChristmas last year wasn't the same for the Kate, Luke, and their family.
Just days before the holiday, a fire started in their attached garage. It grew quickly, and heavy flames began to spread into the house.
Thankfully, the family had practiced EDITH: Exit Drills In the Home. They all knew what to do.
Luke and Kate gathered their children and brought them to a neighbor's house, Luke running barefoot across the snowy street.
Both parents and all of the children made it out safely, but the family dog, Ian, was still inside.
Firefighters arrived in moments and entered the home. Ladder 6's crew found the beloved black lab unresponsive in a bedroom and brought him to the front yard. Together with Medic 2, they cooled him down with snow. Firefighter/EMT Melanie Petersen took off her air pack and placed her mask on Ian's face until a pet oxygen mask could be applied.
"Luke came over and checked on us. We talked through what we were doing," Petersen described. "We put a mask on the dog and were trying to shake him awake. Then Kate came over, and as soon as Ian heard her voice, he started wagging his tail."
As Ian began to wake up, he fought to be freed from the oxygen mask and to return to his family.
Luke, with the help of a Madison Police officer, immediately took Ian to the emergency vet while neighbors, friends, and relatives rallied to provide warmth and shelter for the displaced family.
Engine 4 and Engine 7 retrieved the family's essential belongings and, of course, the Christmas presents.
"Even in the fear of the moment, [Luke and Kate] commented on how amazing the folks on-site had been to them and Ian," a family friend recently shared with the Madison Fire Department.
Six months later, the family has returned home. Firefighters were invited to the celebratory "welcome back" party and were shown around the house, which has been fully repaired and restored.
"It stood out to me how well loved the family must be," said Firefighter Petersen. "There was so much joy and love in that house."
Ian the dog was all smiles, too.
"The family would have been devastated if he hadn't survived," said Petersen. "Things can be bought and replaced, but he's a member of the family."
Now back at home, with Ian back in good health, the family is looking forward to a much merrier Christmas this time around!
This content is free for use with credit to the City of Madison Fire Department.
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