Cats are often said to have “nine lives” due to their remarkable ability to land on their feet. However, the same can be said for one courageous dog who leapt from a second-story window to escape a burning home.
According to NBC Philadelphia, a man named Justin Steinmetz noticed a smoke-filled house in Fleetwood, Berks County, while driving to work. The home was empty — the adults were at work, and the kids were at school — so Justin urgently sought help. He enlisted another driver to call 911 and attempted to extinguish the fire with a hose, but his efforts were in vain. Firefighters soon arrived to battle the blaze.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the family’s dog, Charlie, appeared in a second-story window, desperately trying to escape. The firefighters encouraged Charlie to jump out the window, which was his only route to safety. In a heart-stopping moment captured on video by Justin, the dog made a brave leap. Though charred by the fire, he survived.
“He had a mouth full of smoke, lungs full of smoke, and he jumped to safety,” Justin told NBC. “He jumped when he needed to, that’s what matters.”
The family’s other dog and their two cats were also found on the scene, having managed to escape the home. While it’s a relief that the pets survived, the homeowners, identified as the Stump family, “lost everything” in the fire. A GoFundMe campaign was set up to help them recover from the devastating loss of their home.
“We are very grateful they are okay, but are painfully aware that their lives will be significantly impacted as a result of the devastating fire to their home today,” the site reads. The page has raised $40,000 for the family.
Justin, who runs a farm, mentioned he would be lending the family some baby goats for “goat therapy,” highlighting the pets’ survival as a significant positive outcome.
“I feel blessed that the animals got out alive, that’s the big thing,” he told NBC.
What a dramatic escape from this burning home! We’re relieved that Charlie is safe now and are sending our thoughts and prayers to the family as they recover from this devastating fire.
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