Woman credits dog for escaping O'Leary house fire

A woman who credits her dog with waking her up escaped in night clothes from a housefire in O'Leary, P.E.I., the Canadian Red Cross says.

The house is likely a total lossafter thefire Sunday morning.

Firefighters got the call to a Main Street address around 6 a.m. Firefighters from O'Leary, West Point and Alberton responded.

No one was injured in the fire.

Officials with the Canadian Red Cross said the womanrented the house. They said volunteers have arranged emergency lodging, food, winter clothing purchases and some other basics for her.

When firefighters arrived, the fire had reached inside and outside the house,said O'Leary Deputy Chief Jason Greenan.

He said the fire was working its way through the atticof the storey-and-a-half dwelling.

"So it took a lot of ventilation and a lot of cutting to get to it," he said. "But eventually we did. The only bad part is of course the house is practically destroyed because of it. Water damage and fire damage."

Firefighters worked for more than six hours to put out the fire. The fire marshal is investigating the blaze.

Jo-Anne Smallman lives next door to the house. She said her daughter woke to hear firefighters breaking through windows next door.

"She proceeded to come down because the smoke was starting to come into our house and she turned off our heat pump because she didn't know if that was creating the smoke to come into our home," she said.

"We could see there was a lot of smoke and the firemen ... were dealing with the fire."

Smallman described the scene asshocking.

"It was kind of scary not really knowing whether it could get out of control and affect my home."

When I left there were holes in it, the windows were smashed in it, you know, there was a lot of smoke coming from it.Jo-Anne Smallman, neighbour

She saidher neighbour's house looks devastated.

"When I left there were holes in it, the windows were smashed in it, you know, there was a lot of smoke coming from it. It was really hard for me to even see."

Smallmanand her daughter gathered a few items and left their home. Shesaid her house also sustained some damage and she is waiting to hear from her insurance company.

Smallmansaid she doesn't expect to be back in her home for several days.

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