In his 35 years of serving as a volunteer firefighter, Brett Tetanish recently encountered an unprecedented fire incident in Newport Station, N.S. The blaze at a single-story residence led to the rescue of approximately 20 dogs, with one unfortunate canine casualty.
Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tetanish expressed amazement at the continuous stream of firefighters emerging from the house with dogs in tow. The occupants were not present during the fire, reported around 6:30 p.m. AT, prompting a swift response from around 40 firefighters, including units from two other departments.
Tetanish noted that the rescue efforts were immense, with as many personnel attending to the dogs as actively combatting the fire. The reason for the large number of dogs in the house remains unclear.
While the fire primarily affected the kitchen area, causing fire, water, and smoke damage, Tetanish confirmed it was deemed accidental, though the exact cause remains undetermined. Nearby residents treated for smoke inhalation are expected to recover after possibly attempting to aid in firefighting and dog rescue efforts.
The fire departments possessed oxygen masks for animals but lacked sufficient quantities for all the rescued dogs, including a litter of puppies, necessitating the use of human-adapted masks. Tetanish praised the firefighters’ compassion, highlighting their dedicated care for the dogs by administering oxygen and other necessary treatments. The dogs received further attention from veterinary technicians from a local animal hospital before being transferred to emergency clinics in the Halifax area.