Credit: Clackamas Fire
Happy Valley dog alerts owner to neighbor’s fire
by Jeff Thompson, kgw.com Staff
kgw.com
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 8:20 AM
Updated today at 8:21 AM
HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. – A Happy Valley dog spotted a garage fire across the street and alerted his owner, who called 911. Crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to the house.
Just before 1 p.m. Thursday, Clackamas Fire crews responded to a mini-van on fire, parked outside a Happy Valley home.
The fire had scorched the outside of the garage doors, but it was extinguished by the responding engine company before it spread to the home.
A neighbor across the street from the home had called 911 after her Labradoodle, Oscar, alerted her with his relentless barking. She came downstairs and found Oscar staring out the window at the fire.
“Because of Oscar’s actions, someone noticed the fire before it spread to the home from the mini-van,” said Steve McAdoo, with Clackamas Fire. “Many times, house fires go unnoticed during the daytime hours due to people being away at work and school.”
The damage to the house was minimal, but the mini-van was apparently a total loss.
One person who was home at the time of the fire was treated on scene for respiratory problems and transported to a local hospital.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
