In his 35 years as a volunteer firefighter, Brett Tetanish described the recent fire in Newport Station, N.S., as unlike any he had seen before. During the incident on Saturday night, approximately 20 dogs were rescued from a single-story residence, with one unfortunate canine not surviving.
The Chief of the Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department, Tetanish, expressed amazement at the continuous stream of firefighters emerging from the home with dogs in tow. The occupants of the house were absent when the fire broke out around 6:30 p.m. AT.
A total of around 40 firefighters, including personnel from two additional departments, responded to the emergency. Tetanish noted that an equal number of firefighters were engaged in tending to the dogs as were fighting the blaze.
The reason behind the large number of dogs in the home remains unclear. Although the departments possessed animal oxygen masks, they were insufficient to provide for all the dogs, including a litter of puppies, necessitating the use of masks designed for humans.
Tetanish praised the firefighters’ compassionate care for the dogs, highlighting their efforts in administering oxygen and other necessary treatments. Additionally, veterinary technicians from a local animal hospital assisted in caring for the dogs, who were subsequently transferred to emergency clinics in the Halifax area.
Regarding the fire’s impact, Tetanish mentioned that it was confined to the kitchen area, resulting in fire and water damage in that section, as well as smoke damage throughout the residence. While the fire is believed to be accidental, the exact cause remains undetermined.
Two individuals residing near the property received treatment for smoke inhalation and are expected to recover. Tetanish speculated that they entered the house to combat the fire and attempt to rescue some of the dogs.
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