Pups, Hamster, Turtle, Residents Survive Winter Haven House Fire

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A hamster was discovered unharmed in its play ball, a turtle was found uninjured in its tank and a dog was found shaken but alive after a house divided into eight apartments on Farnol Street caught fire Wednesday.

Three engines and a tower truck from the Winter Haven Fire Department, two engines and a medic unit from Polk County Fire Rescue and members of the Winter Haven Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the fire at the two-story subdivided home around 10 a.m.

Upon arriving, firefighters reported seeing flames coming from a first-floor apartment and thick smoke from two second-floor apartments directly above the fire.

A fire crew launched an offensive attack while police and deputies began searching for anyone still inside the structure. Four people came out after being alerted by police, but two people couldn't be found, so firefighters searched the upstairs apartments.

Through heavy smoke, firefighters finally found two people asleep in a second-story apartment and escorted them to safety. Both refused medical treatment.

One resident who had already left the building told rescuers her dog was still inside her apartment. Firefighters went back in and rescued the dog, which was frightened but uninjured.

After the fire was extinguished, firefighters did a complete search of the house and were surprised to find another dog uninjured inside as well as the hamster in its play ball and the turtle in its tank.

The fire was contained to one downstairs unit, however, the entire structure sustained smoke damage. The Red Cross is helping all the residents who have been displaced from their homes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.