Barking Dogs Save Sleeping Georgia Family From Fire

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A family in Lawrenceville is safe and sound after their two dogs alerted them to a fire in their home Sunday morning, even before the smoke detectors could. It was 3:40 a.m. when Gwinnett firefighters responded to the house in the 1000 block of Appian Way NW, according to a release from the department.

Firefighters arrived and everybody was already safely out of the house, including two adults, four kids and, of course, their two very good dogs.

Smoke was billowing from the front of their home, the release said. The garage, converted into a living space, was engulfed and fire broke through the roof.

The release said firefighters made an "aggressive interior fire attack," helping to limit the damage to much of the home. Still, there was heavy fire damage to the converted living space, second floor and attic, and moderate smoke, heat and water damage to the rest of the house.

It took firefighters under 40 minutes to have the blaze under control.

The origin of the fire was found to be at the front-right corner of the home, outside, near a trash can. Investigators are still finding the cause of the fire.

With or without dogs, every house should have working smoke alarms on every level and in every bedroom, firefighters remind citizens. Also, have an escape plan ready.

For information on home fire and life safety, you can call the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678.518.4845 or e-mail fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.

Article images via Gwinnett County Fire and EMS