Firefighters credited with saving pooch in Old Wakefield Road blaze

The garage and breezeway at 8 Old Wakefield Road were a total loss, but the house was saved. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester firefighters are being credited with saving a dog's life after fire broke out at an Old Wakefield Road residence on Tuesday.
Beth Pompano, who lives in the cape-style house with her mother and daughter, said she discovered the fire in her garage around 12:40 p.m., grabbed a fire extinguisher from her house and tried to put it out.
"I tried, but it was too hot, and I had to get out of the smoke," she said today outside the charred remains of her breezeway, which was also destroyed in the blaze.
She then called 911 before closing the doors from the breezeway into her house and garage, a move firefighters agreed may have saved her home due to cutting off some of the oxygen to the flames.
While waiting for firefighters to arrive, she and her daughter did their best to get their four dogs out of harm's way, "but they were all hiding in various parts of the house," Pompano said. "Me and my daughter were getting so much smoke, we had to keep going in and out trying to get them."
She said they got three of the dogs out, but the smoke became so intense they were unable to go back for the fourth, a full grown Vizsla, who remained inside the smoke-filled house.
Upon arrival Rochester firefighters poured water on the garage and breezeway, which were both considered total losses, Pompano said. They also were able to get the remaining dog outside to safety.
"They did an amazing job," said Pompano, who has lived in the house for 52 years.
She said she and her daughter both suffered smoke inhalation, but they're OK. Today they were using a specialized air filtration systems for smoke mitigation inside the residence.

Mutual aid was provided by Milton, Somersworth, Dover, Berwick, and Lebanon, Maine.

Frisbie EMS was called to assess Pompano and her daughter. Neither was transported, according to Rochester Fire.

Mutual aid was provided by Milton, Somersworth, Dover, Berwick, and Lebanon, Maine.