2 Dogs, Couple Recovering After LI House Fire: 'It Was Terrifying'

SAG HARBOR, NY —A week after a fire ripped through the Sag Harbor home of two dedicated local volunteers with their precious dogs inside, all are safe and healing from the trauma.

But help is still needed to help them rebuild after the couple lost almost everything in the blaze.

A GoFundMe page, "Stephen & Missie Hesler," was created by Michele Hesler, Stephen and Missie’s sister-in-law.

"This morning there was a horrific fire in their home and they lost everything," she said. "Although it is hard to lose material things, what’s worse is their two dogs, Gus and Gabi, were in the home. They were pulled unconscious from the fire by Stephen, and he was able to revive them."

The dogs were hospitalized for evaluation, oxygen, fluids and care, she said.

"We are asking you to keep Steve, Missie and their pups in your prayers," Hesler wrote. "This will be a long process to rebuild their home."

Missie and Stephen dedicate their lives to the service of their community through volunteering with the Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance and the Sag Harbor Fire Department, she said.

"Now, they need us to be there for them," Hesler said. "Any contributions will go to helping them in the next few months. We thank you."

The fire broke out last Monday at about 7:48 a.m.at a home on Carlisle Lane, Southampton Town police said. The residence was unoccupied — and the two dogs were rescued from inside, police said. Both dogs were taken to an area veterinary clinic, where they were reported to be in good condition, police said.

The fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported, police said. Southampton Town police detectives and fire marshals are investigating the cause of the blaze, which appeared to non criminal, police said.

The Sag Harbor Fire Department, Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance, and East Hampton Fire Departments responded to the scene, police said.

Sariah Evjen, Missie's daughter and Steve's stepdaughter, described the fear that hung heavy when she heard about the fire.

"It was terrifying getting the call from my mom. All she kept saying was, 'The house is on fire and the dogs are in the house!'"

Evjen, a teacher, said she was in her classroom in Tampa, FL, where she lives, at the time and immediately ran out to the hallway to try to get more information.

"I kept saying, 'What do you mean, the house is on fire? Where are the dogs? Are they out and okay?' She was so frantic that it was difficult to know exactly what was going on — she had no answers. By the time I received the call, my mom was already racing home from work."

Steve, Evjen said, saved the dogs himself. "He ran into the house while the fire was still blazing. He found Gabi first and went back in for Gus," she said.

Evjen said although the house was gutted, knowing that the dogs were inside the house was the worst part of the nightmare.

"I knew my mom and Steve were at work, so I knew they were safe. And although I don’t live with them anymore, the material items could be replaced. I am a huge dog person, and have two dogs of my own. Knowing if Gabi and Gus were trapped in there was the one piece of information I was trying to find out."

Soon after she hung up with her mom, she called back and told Evjen: “Steve got the dogs out. He did CPR on them, and they’re on the way to the vet.”

Evjen said she called Steve immediately and asked him if he was okay. "Knowing him, he ran into the house without any fire gear on to save the dogs. And that, he did! I could tell how much he was hurting knowing that the dogs weren’t in great shape, but I was just glad to hear his voice and know that he was okay and that the dogs were headed to the vet to get the help they needed."

The dogs are both Labradoodles; Gus is two years old and Gabi, a year old.

At first, there were concerns about the dogs' condition, she said.

"After CPR, Gus was having seizures. Gabi seemed to be ok after CPR, but eventually, she started going downhill and had a hard time breathing. They both were brought to an emergency vet to get 24-hour oxygen and more hands-on support for their medical needs," she said.

As for the home, much was lost.

"The entire first floor was engulfed in flames and nothing on the first floor was salvageable," Evjen said. "Their basement had a ton of water damage, but thankfully they were able to recover their important documents and important items for their business, Hamptons Exclusive Property Management."

The upstairs was filled with smoke, Evjen said, so a lot of what was in their rooms was unsalvageable. They were able to recover some clothing items, which are now being professionally cleaned in hopes that they can get rid of the smell of smoke and soot covering their clothes, bedding, furniture, she said.

The fire has been deeply painful for her family, who have devoted so many years to helping others in their own times of tragedy and great need, Evjen said.

"It has been very difficult for them to be going through this. They have both bent over backward for their community, for so many years. They’ve seen it all from an outsiders' perspective, with house fires specifically," she said. "The last house fire my mom went to was devastating and was a call she would never forget. She got emotional talking to me about that fire, and said that she never thought this — her and Steve’s house fire — would happen to them."

And, she added: "Although no lives were lost in their house fire, losing everything they worked so hard for was devastating."

The Sag Harbor community is tightly-knit with love and together, they have come forward to lift up two of their own and bolster them with care and support.

"No words can describe how unbelievably thankful I am for everyone who has stepped up to help them through this," Evjen said. "So many people from Sag Harbor, close friends and family, mutual friends from all over the country have not only reached out to my mom and Steve, but to my siblings and me, offering their prayers and support. From phone calls, texts messages, GoFundMe donations, and even community members dropping off home cooked meals."

She added that she is forever grateful to everyone who has been there to support them.

"Living in Tampa during this time has been so incredibly hard, but I find comfort knowing that they’re in great hands and are being taken care of. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every single person who has helped them through this, no matter how big or small, any bit of support they’ve received means the world to me."

Evjen said her siblings, Chris an Cali Cafiero live in Colorado and Hawaii, respectively. Evjen said she had just been home for her baby shower a week before the fire. "It was too surreal," she said.

Currently, the Heslers are settling into a temporary rental in Sag Harbor, and are trying to rebuild from there, Evjen said. GoFundMe donations and meals have been very helpful for them as they try to get their lives back on track, all while continuing to manage their business and meet their clients' needs.

Most important, Evjen said, both dogs are recovering very well, and are home and happy.

"They both have slight coughs from the smoke and CO2, but that will subside as time goes on. They are two very lucky dogs, I can tell you that! They refuse to leave my mom and Steve's sides," she said.

And her mother and Steve, despite all they've endured, have found some measure of peace, with their pups home.

"You could see the change in my mom and Steve’s demeanor once they got the dogs back in their care," she said. "They’ll make it through — they really do have the best support system."

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.