1 dead after fire in north Austin; dogs saved: ATCEMS
AUSTIN, Texas - A person is dead after being pulled from a burning house in north Austin early Saturday morning, according to Austin Fire and ATCEMS.
Coming from those flames early Saturday morning was a cry for help.
"We heard dogs yelping on the other side of the main door," said Sam McCall, a neighbor.
McCall and his son called 911 for help and sprung into action to try and save the dogs stuck inside.
"My son just immediately took the initiative and immediately kicked the door in," said McCall.
Inside were two dogs. One was not moving.
"The ceiling was just starting to collapse," said McCall. "I mean, within a few feet of me there was flaming debris falling, so I just dragged the dog to outside the door, and then I picked him up away from the house."
A third dog escaped to the backyard.
"It just spread, so there was just not much time to do anything," said McCall.
AFD responded to a structure fire at a house in the 11000 block of Indianhead Drive in north Austin around 1:19 a.m. early Saturday morning.
The department reported that a victim had been pulled from the burning house.
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The fire was knocked down by approximately 1:24 a.m., and crews worked to overhaul and ventilate the structure. Medics with EMS were on the scene with the victim.
ATCEMS reported that the adult patient pulled from the fire was in cardiac arrest and died at the scene after medics performed extensive resuscitation efforts.
"It's a huge loss for the neighborhood," said McCall.
Neighbors on Indianhead Drive said the victim worked with a heeler foster group.
"Everyone has nothing but good things to say about him," said McCall. "He was the sweetest man and a true friend to some of the neighbors. I didn't know the guy that well, but I know he was a really good guy and a dog lover."
His community has created a pack of their own to help the animals their late neighbor loved so well.
"I know he really cared about them," said McCall.
McCall and a friend of the man took the dogs to the emergency vet.
"The youngest one did sustain some second-degree burns, and he's still currently on oxygen, and the other two are just under observation," said Elizabeth Karner
All three are expected to be okay.
"They're just, you know, staying together and getting better," said Karner.
Karner said the three dogs are looking for a foster home.
They want to avoid the shelter since the dogs have already gone through so much trauma.
If you're interested in fostering or want to help with the emergency vet bills, Karner provided Fox 7 with this GoFundMe link.