Fire Officials: Monmouth County Family Alerted to Early Morning Fire by Dog

A family in Middletown is crediting their dog with alerting them an early Monday morning fire in their home, according to Middletown Fire officials.

At 2:39 a.m. on November 24, the Middletown Township Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire on Vista Road in the Old Village section of the Township, according to Middletown Township Fire Department spokesman John Isaksen.

Approximately 40 firefighters from four companies of the Middletown Township Fire Department - Old Village, Middletown, Belford Independent, and Belford Engine Fire Companies - responded to the scene, under the command of Deputy Chief Rick Hibell, according to Isaksen.

The family reported to fire officials that they were alerted to the fire by their dog, and were able to evacuate the home before emergency units responded.

The first arriving fire units observed fire on the exterior of an attached sun room in the rear of the home, Isaksen said. Firemen from the Old Village Fire Company quickly extinguished the fire, which had spread to the roof area. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the back exterior of the home. There was minor smoke and water damage in the residential portion of the house, according to Isaksen.

Chief Hibell declared the fire under control by 3:05 a.m., with the last units leaving the scene by 4:00 a.m., Isaksen said.

Members of the Middletown Township Emergency Medical Services units were on scene, but there were no reported injuries during the incident, according to Isaksen.

The fire is being investigated by the Middletown Township Fire Prevention office.