ICYMI: Officer Reunites With Family He Rescued From House Fire

In case you missed it, here's a story that appeared last week in the Lindenhurst Patch:

WEST BABYLON, NY — The new year was a rough start for a West Babylon family who lost their home and dog in a fire on New Year's Eve. However, they also were grateful that they were saved from further tragedy thanks to the heroism of a Suffolk County Police officer who help the family of four evacuate the burning home.

During routine patrol in the early morning hours on Dec. 31, officer Avital Donnenfeld saw smoke coming from the Ecker Avenue home and went in to wake resident Theresa Hoffman to inform her of the blaze. She was then able to alert her husband, Jason, who was in the shower at the time. The Hoffmans and Donnenfeld then helped the couple's two sons, ages 6 and 12, to evacuate the home. All four escaped with no injuries but the family's dog, a 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Riley, died in the fire.

Click here to read the full story.