Six-year-old Sheltie named Milo was home alone when a terrifying fire filled his Pasadena house with thick smoke. Within minutes, firefighters arrived and began a desperate search for the beloved dog, who was trapped inside and unable to escape.
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The incident happened on September 9 while Milo’s family was away running errands. His owner, Fernando, was also out of the country at the time. A delivery worker passing the house noticed smoke coming from the property and heard Milo barking inside. Realizing that someone was in danger, the delivery worker immediately called 911.
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Firefighters from Pasadena, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre arrived within minutes. After gaining access to the home, firefighters discovered that the smoke inside was extremely heavy, making it almost impossible to see or hear anything.
Sierra Madre firefighter Jessica Johnson entered the smoke-filled house with a thermal imaging camera. Although she was only in her second year as a firefighter, she continued searching despite the dangerous conditions. Johnson went back inside three times before finally locating Milo in the living room.
The frightened dog was lying unconscious beneath a table near the front window. Johnson quickly picked him up and carried him outside. Milo was completely limp after inhaling a significant amount of smoke.
Once outside, firefighters immediately placed an animal oxygen mask over Milo’s face and began trying to revive him. For approximately five agonizing minutes, there was no response. Then, suddenly, Milo moved and rolled over.
The soot-covered Sheltie was alive.
Milo’s family was racing home during the rescue and had no idea whether their dog would survive. Their relief was enormous when they learned that firefighters had managed to bring him back.
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After receiving veterinary care, Milo continued recovering at home. He developed a slight cough but soon returned to his normal routine, running and playing again. His veterinarian expected him to make a full recovery.
A few days later, Milo returned to meet the firefighters who saved his life. His family brought custom shirts featuring Milo’s smiling face as a special thank-you.
credit: ABC7
For firefighter Jessica Johnson, seeing Milo healthy again made the difficult rescue especially meaningful. Milo’s family says they will always be grateful to the firefighters who risked their lives to bring him safely home.
