Nedrow firefighters battled a house fire Saturday night on Smith Avenue.
NEDROW, N.Y. -- Volunteer firefighters saved a dog from a house fire Saturday night in Nedrow as they tried to exit the house, which had become too unsafe, Nedrow First Assistant Fire Chief James Emm said.
The firefighters were ordered out of the house, at 303 Smith Ave., minutes after they entered, he said.
On their way out, they happened to come across the dog, Emm said.
"There was a lot of fire," he said. "The fire was too much... It was safer to fight the fire from the outside."
Firefighters carried the dog out of the burning house to safety, Emm said.
TLC Ambulance crews administered oxygen to the dog; the town dog warden then brought the dog to a local animal hospital, according to Emm.
Firefighters were told the dog survived.
A man and woman who rented the house were not home when the fire started.
Firefighters battled a house fire Saturday night at 303 Smith Ave. in Nedrow.
Instead, several neighbors called the Onondaga County 911 Center, starting at 9:39 p.m. to report smoke and a possible house fire in the area. Shortly after, another neighbor called 911 to say the side of the house, at 303 Smith Ave., was on fire.
Nedrow, Onondaga Nation, Sentinel Heights, Southwood, Jamesville, South Onondaga, Taunton, Onondaga Hill, Howlett Hill and DeWitt volunteer fire departments helped fight the fire. Tully Fire Department covered calls for the Nedrow fire district during the fire. TLC Ambulance provided rehab services for firefighters. Onondaga County sheriff's deputies and Onondaga County fire investigators also responded.
The first chief on the scene reported heavy fire on the second floor of the house and flames shooting through the roof at the back of the house, Emm said.
Firefighters arrived within five minutes of the initial dispatch, he said. They did not see any vehicles in the driveway when they arrived. Bystanders also told firefighters they did not think anyone was inside at the time.
Firefighters tried to fight the fire from within the house, but they were quickly told to get out "for their safety," Emm said.
The roof on the back half the house burned away, causing the roof to collapse, he said. Firefighters cut holes in both the roof and siding on the front side of the house to get access to the fire.
The couple who lived in the house came home while firefighters battled the fire. Emm said they seemed to be in shock.
Deputies and fire investigators spoke with the couple after they arrived to gather information. The American Red Cross then helped the couple.
Firefighters extinguished the bulk of the fire after about an hour, however they continued to fight several small pockets of fire for the next several hours, Emm said.
The fire, which destroyed the home and everything in it, appears to have started in the basement.
"Unfortunately, I think the fire got a good start before we got there," Emm said.
County fire investigators are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, however Emm said, "it does not appear to be suspicious or intentional in any way at this time."
Firefighters remained on scene until about 1:30 a.m., four hours after they arrived, he said. While they were there, residents brought firefighters water and Gatorade, the Nedrow Fire Department's Auxiliary brought them sandwiches and Green Hills Farms grocery store gave the firefighters donuts.
"It's wonderful how the community comes together in a time of tragedy," Emm said. "And we're obviously grateful no citizens or firefighters were hurt, and we're thankful the dog survived."