Firefighters, paramedics lauded for life-saving efforts on pooch in Eastside blaze

Site of the fire at 13 Green St. in East Rochester (Courtesy photos)

ROCHESTER - More came to light on Wednesday regarding the lifesaving efforts by Rochester firefighters and Frisbie paramedics to save a dog at last month's house fire in East Rochester.
Rochester Fire Chief Dennis Dube said when firefighters first arrived at 13 Green St. during the afternoon of Sept. 20 they found the fire had begun in the kitchen but smoke had spread through the house.
During a search they found the family dog lying by the front door unconscious and unresponsive, prompting firefighters to administer oxygen and seek to cool the pooch's body temperature with cold water.

Rochester Fire Chief Dennis Dube

Paramedics from Frisbie Memorial Hospital arrived shortly after and took over lifesaving efforts, according to Dube. After a period of time the dog was revived and transported to a local animal hospital for further treatment.
The actual cause of the blaze may remain undetermined, Dube said, as the knobs on the stove had all melted in the blaze, however he did take the opportunity to warn citizens to never leave pots and pans on a stovetop.
According to Dube, it's possible the stove could have been left on, but it's also possible the dog was trying to get at food atop the stove and turned it on inadvertently.
"They could easily have switched on the burner," he said. "It can happen."
Dube said if there were no pots or pans on top of the stove, the heat source would have gone harmlessly into the air.
He said the message was simple, don't leave pots and pans on the stove.
No one was home at the time of the fire, which did claim the life of the family cat.