Former EMT Saves Dog From Burning House In Wauwatosa

WAUWATOSA, WI— A former licensed EMT saved a dog from a burning home in Wauwatosa on Tuesday.

Joe Loduha of Wauwatosa was on his way to a remodeling job when he spotted smoke near 68th Street and Terrace Court on Tuesday morning. No firetrucks were on the scene yet, and he heard a neighbor on the speakerphone with a dispatcher.

Loduha immediately asked if anyone was inside the home and was met with a chorus of "I don't know, I don't know" from the neighbors.

He ran to the front door, as the back of the home was fully engulfed in flames. Loduha now chuckles at the passing thought of being horrified to destroy someone's door. The thought quickly melted away, and he went back into hero mode.

"What was going through my head was the house was on fire and someone could be in there," Loduha told Patch.

The neighbor yelled there was a dog inside the home.

"If I was contemplating going in at all, well there is at least a living creature in there. I didn't want to go home without at least trying to save it," he said.

Loduha described himself as a "big guy" and was able to take on a steel door.

"This guy (homeowner) is a contractor and didn't mess around with doors," he said.

After three kicks Loduha, was able to break the glass on the door. He ended up cutting his leg as it dragged across the broken glass. His adrenaline was amped up as he made his way to another door leading into the home. He kicked it with all his might and broke it down.

"Luckily, all those cheeseburgers paid off," Loduha joked.

The Wauwatosa man started yelling to wake anyone who might have been asleep. He didn't want anyone to think he was a burglar so he yelled, "Fire, fire is anyone home" at the top of his lungs.

Loduha spotted the dog, which was nonchalant about the ordeal. He scooped her up and ran outside to give her to a neighbor. Loduha decided to go back in to make sure no one was inside.

He used his phone as a light because it was dark inside the home. There was one door closed in the back of the kitchen, and he swung it open. Loduha admits it wasn't the best choice, as he was supposed to check for heat first. Loduha was blasted with heat, flames and smoke. It was clear to him the fire was in the back staircase.

A neighbor yelled into the front door that there is no upstairs and to get out. Loduha escaped the house and to safety.

The father of four children felt modest and didn't think he was "risking his life."

"I didn't feel like I was in imminent danger of death at any point; the front door was open at that point," Loduha told Patch.

He said he knew at any moment the house could completely burst into flames and that he could escape through the front door.

Loduha praises firefighters and first responders, calling them "magicians" and the ones who know what they are doing. He said the praise should be toward the men and women who risk their lives every day.

"I'm just a dude who took a couple of classes," he said.

A small world

However, Loduha began to have a coughing fit once he was outside and needed oxygen. He was also cut up and was given medical attention. Besides that, he was curious to see what would happen.

The Wauwatosa Fire Department, along with Milwaukee Fire Department, got the fire under control in less than 30 minutes, according to a news release.

He again praised the fire departments and EMTs, whom he described as wonderful and professional given the "climate they are living in."

When the owner showed up, Loduha learned that they have friends in common. The men exchanged hugs, and Loduha said the owner felt emotional over his beloved dog.

"To put it a better way, he didn't give a (expletive) about his house. He cared about his dog," Loduha said.

The owner told Loduha he is a contractor and could build another home and is insured.

"He didn't say it, but I think the dog is his companion," he said.

Loduha added he understood the owner's feeling as there is a "special kind of love" for dogs.

Everyday hero

The owner of Workroom said his four kids thought the dog saving story was awesome. His son came home from school Tuesday and said his dad is a hero. Loduha jokingly wondered why his son didn't feel that way before.

In all seriousness, he believes anyone would have done what he did, especially if someone was in danger. Loduha said it would have weighed on his conscience if he had done nothing.

Loduha said one day he may need help and hopes it comes back around.

His wife, a teacher, was very proud of him but he said at the end of the day it was "business as usual."

"We made dinner and did homework with the kids. It wasn't like we sat around and talked how awesome dad was," Loduha said.

He added, the evening went right back into normal life.

"It is part of life, people helping people," he said.