A family dog is being credited with saving its owner’s lives after alerting them their mobile home was on fire early this morning in north Habersham County. The couple escaped the burning doublewide with their infant. Sadly, their life-saving canine did not survive.
The fire broke out before dawn at 1142 Frank Lovell Road, off of New Liberty Road near Clarkesville.
Habersham E-911 dispatched firefighters from Habersham County Emergency Services and Lee Arrendale to the scene. When they arrived, they found the home fully engulfed in flames. An automobile and nearby woods were also on fire, says HCES Director Chad Black.
Firefighters contained and extinguished the blaze, but the mobile home was a complete loss.
The couple told officials their dog started barking and woke them. When they got up, the living area was on fire. They escaped to safety with their young son.
Public safety officials initially said the dog survived, but family members tell Now Habersham she did not.
“They were not able to get her out,” says Meggan Addis, whose brother-in-law and sister-in-law and nephew escaped the fire. “She did do her job and barked to wake them up but [there was] no way to get to her safely.”
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Black says the mother suffered burns to her arm. Emergency services treated her on the scene. The father and child were checked but were uninjured.
The American Red Cross has been notified to assist the family. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The family is in need of clothing, food and baby supplies. Anyone interested in donating can contact Addis at (706) 968-3949.
This article has been updated with new information
