GULF SHORES, AL – Fire crews from Gulf Shores extinguished a house fire during the afternoon of Sept. 23 and rescued two dogs who were trapped by the blaze.
The call came in about 5:43 p.m. and crews were on the scene at 112 E. 21st Ave. in …
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GULF SHORES, AL – Fire crews from Gulf Shores extinguished a house fire during the afternoon of Sept. 23 and rescued two dogs who were trapped by the blaze.
The call came in about 5:43 p.m. and crews were on the scene at 112 E. 21st Ave. in Gulf Shores by 5:47.
“Arriving crews heard dogs howling,” Deputy Fire Chief Keith Martin said. “Crews made entry, got the two dogs out and then a second crew started a search as the rescuers returned to advance the hose line in to extinguish the fire. A Medstar ambulance EMT and paramedic crew attended to the dogs.”
Lt. Jeff Kimsey and Firefighter Jeffrey McWilliams retrieved the dogs from the home, Martin said. One of the dogs named Zion had to be revived and was given an IV and oxygen on the scene. The second, Zeplin, suffered burns on its head but was conscious and moving around after being rescued from the fire.
Martin said calls were made to Magnolia by the Gulf Animal Clinic for advice on how to treat the dogs.
“Once the fire was under control, one of the GSFR medics returned to the dog to assist Medstar and one of our volunteer paramedics,” Martin said.
Martin said the owners got in touch with their vet, Dr. Cleverdon at Advanced Animal Care in Foley, and someone was sent in to treat the dogs to avoid a trip to the emergency vet clinics in Mobile or Pensacola.
Dr. Jeff Gunter of Advanced Animal Care said a pit bull was taken to his clinic and had smoke inhalation damage, but no significant burns to the outside of his body.
"He's doing well, the prognosis is fair and I'm optimistic," Gunter said Thursday morning, Sept. 24.
“It is my understanding both dogs are stable at this time,” Martin said.
The house, however, is uninhabitable, Martin said, after sustaining fire damage in one bedroom and the living room and heavy smoke damage throughout. Following standard procedure, Martin said the state fire marshal was called to help with the investigation.
“This is routine for us to do when there isn’t a clear cause of fire,” he said. “The fire is still under investigation but is not currently listed as suspicious.”
Crews were clear of the scene by 8:20 p.m.
