Pets Rescued From House Fire

[JCarlson2004]

Wow, what a great story! Check it out:

Pets Rescued From House Fire

http://www.wesh.com/news/5452294/det...0409&qs=1;bp=t

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. -- A house fire in Volusia County kept Daytona Beach, Port Orange and South Daytona fire crews busy Friday morning because they had to rescue several pets.

The state fire marshal's office is still investigating the cause of the fire, and so far, they've been concentrating most of their efforts on a front bedroom, WESH 2 News reported.

They believe the fire may have started in that room, and police are still looking for the man who was staying in that bedroom when the fire started.

Meanwhile, the owner of the home said she is thankful everyone got out alive, including her four cats and two dogs.

"She's OK. She's just feisty and scared," said Marilee Dodimead, describing one of her cats.

The animals are shaken up and covered in ash, but Dodimead said that's OK because they're all survivors.

"Everything can be replaced. Things aren't that important. As long as we're all still alive, we're OK," Dodimead said.

Firefighters rescued the animals as flames ripped through Dodimead's home on Bryan Avenue in South Daytona.

"The front bedroom was fully involved with fire already venting through the windows and starting to vent through the roof," said Capt. Tad Derr, of the South Daytona Fire Department.

"For the animals, it was worse than for me. I knew enough to get out," Dodimead said.

Her 47-year-old son also escaped the fire, but investigators said he left the scene before they got the chance to talk to him.

The dogs and cats were treated at a nearby animal clinic and are expected to make a full recovery.

Investigators said they will be removing some evidence from the bedroom.