House Fire Traumatizes Dog Who Receives Hug, Comfort From Prince George's Firefighter

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Firefighters are called upon to battle blazes, rescue people from burning buildings, extricate individuals trapped in vehicles and other heroic duties. They also have been known to administer oxygen to pets caught in burning homes and give a comforting hug to dogs frightened by fires and loud equipment.

Monday afternoon, Prince George's County firefighters were called to a home in the 3600 block of Kingswood Drive in Suitland for a report of a fire.

Firefighters arrived shortly after 2:30 p.m. to the two-story home where they found flames on the second floor and shooting out the dormer windows. Firefighters put out the fire quickly without injuries. The man who lives there and his dog were able to escape uninjured.

The department shared photos of the fire and of professional firefighter Lt. Conway comforting an upset dog, which has drawn praise from Facebook users. Prince George's County Fire/EMS Spokesperson Alan Doubleday told Patch that the firefighter used webbing to create a makeshift leash to help keep the dog safe and away from the burning home and equipment until they could retrieve his actual leash from the home.