Pet dog credited with alerting pair about house fire
Published: February 14, 2007
A city family is crediting their pet dog for alerting relatives of a fire in the home Tuesday morning.
Daniel Mee was house sitting for his aunt and uncle, Cheryl and U.S. Air Force Reserves Tech Sgt. Prescott Pranke, at their home at 713 Rostraver St., where he was staying with his girlfriend, Amy Faro.
Cheryl Pranke said her nephew and his girlfriend awoke early Tuesday morning when their dog, Brutus, starting jumping on Faro.
“He started licking her face and jumping on her head,” Pranke said.
When the couple woke, they smelled smoke and felt heat coming from the walls. They immediately called 911 to dispatch firefighters.
Once they left the house, Pranke said Faro went back in to try and save their cat, and Brutus followed right behind her.
Municipal Fire Chief Tim Billick said both city fire departments arrived to the house around 6:30 a.m. and saw smoke coming out of the attic vents. State police Fire Marshal Tom Hartley ruled it was an electrical fire.
Billick said the house sustained extensive smoke and water damage, in addition to roof damage. While no one was injured fighting the fire, Billick said firefighters had a tough time in the frigid weather and icy streets.
He credited the street department and Mon Valley Emergency Medical Services for assisting at the scene.
And the Prankes are crediting Brutus.
“If he hadn’t woke them up, I hate to think what could have happened,” Cheryl Pranke said.
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