NH Dog Saves Family From Fire

BARNSTEAD, NH — A dog was credited with saving a family in Barnstead over the weekend by waking them up as a massive fire consumed their home. The blaze broke out Saturday at about 4 a.m. on Beauty Hill Road. Two firefighters were injured and several pets were killed. The dog survived.

"There were no working smoke detectors in the home," Barnstead Deputy Fire-Rescue Chief John Drew said in a statement. "One of the family dogs alerted the sleeping occupants to the fire. The dog is credited with saving the lives of the two occupants. If the occupants had not been alerted by the dog, and with no working smoke detectors, it is unlikely that (the) occupants would have survived."

The firefighters suffered minor injuries. The home, valued at about $250,000, was deemed a total loss.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. The Red Cross responded to the scene to help the family with shelter arrangements.

The fire hit two alarms and fire departments from about a dozen surrounding communities assisted with the firefighting efforts.

Photo: The scene of a fire at a Barnstead home Dec. 29, 2018. (Credit: Barnstead Fire Department)