Fire Station Adopts Last Puppy Rescued from Fire

By Lindy Thackston First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- They put out fires one minute, and turn up the heat in the kitchen the next. Fire Station 28 lives like one big family.

After years of fighting fires, the men had never faced a challenge like the one before them early Saturday morning.

"We're used to dealing with one, maybe two pets in the house," said Lt. Michael Biladeau of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.

"At this fire, (we had) multiple animals, multiple kennels, multiple rooms, and locked doors."

The Jacksonville Humane Society had around 200 animals locked inside, and flames were shooting 30 feet high.

"(We had) upgraded assignments, extra rescues, extra engines, extra ladders, and extra chiefs," said Lt. Biladeau.

There are sights and sounds from that night that they say will be hard to forget.

"Obviously they were barking," said Lt. Biladeau. "They were scared."

Lt. Biladeau and a few others, unlocked cage after cage and pulled out the animals too scared to come out on their own.

"Three hours into it, we're tired, and we take one last effort of walking through this building."

And there he was under the caved in roof.

"He was the only puppy alive three hours into the process. We find him soaking wet, battered, and charred."

And as the saved dogs licked the faces of firemen, the men of Station 28 made a decision.

"We had talked about it, and every station would love to have a dog, and we found this little puppy and we decided that's going to be the station dog."

As Station 28 looks at the Humane Society's website, and remembers the last time they saw many of these animal's faces, they also think of the one they're giving a warm home.

"Fireman are nurturers by nature I believe," said Lt. Biladeau. "And everyone's got a huge heart."

The puppy is a golden retriever mix, and the fireman have named him "Lucky."

Lucky is getting some medical care, and is set to meet his new family later this week.

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