Westport firefighters rescue pet dog in fire that destroys home

A Sunday morning fire in Westport has caused significant damage and led to the rescue of a family pet.

The Westport Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire on Sanford Road around 1:30 a.m. early Sunday morning, which resulted in significant smoke, water, and fire damage to the two-story home.

According to Deputy Chief Daniel Baldwin, the first arriving engine, staffed with two firefighters, found heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the home on both the first and second floors. Firefighters were told that everyone was out of the home, except for the family’s Golden Retriever, which they believed was still on the second floor. Captain Martin and FF Tabares knocked down a bulk of the fire from the exterior, before advancing a handline inside to the second floor in search of the family dog. Despite the active fire and heavy smoke conditions, they were able to locate the semi-conscious dog on the second floor. Together, they carried the dog from the home to the backyard, where awaiting firefighters and Westport police officers administered oxygen via a special oxygen mask designed for animals. Within minutes the dog became more alert and was soon able to stand on all fours. The dog appeared to be recovering quickly, however as a precaution the owners took him to the vet for further observation and is expected to make a full recovery.

Baldwin stated that Westport responded with two engines and the Deputy Chief, aided by off-duty and on-call firefighters. An engine company from Tiverton responded to provide additional manpower, while Dartmouth Fire District 3 and Little Compton Fire provided tankers. Dartmouth Fire District 2 covered Station 1 until crews were back in service around 6 a.m. Rehab was provided by members of the Westport Emergency Management Special Services division.

Fire investigators believe a heat lamp that was being used to prevent pipes from freezing may have contributed to the cause. An extensive overhaul was conducted to fully extinguish the fire which made its way into the attic and wall space of the home.

This is the second house fire Westport has responded to over the past week.

The homeowner was alerted to the fire by an activated smoke detector in the basement, at which time they smelled the smoke and saw flames.

WFD wanted to remind all residents that working smoke detectors save lives.

“Test your detectors regularly and replace the batteries often.”

The bitter cold temperatures overnight caused icy conditions on the fire ground and along Sanford Road, the Westport Highway department was dispatched to sand and salt the area.

There were no injuries.