Wall EMS Help Save Dog Rescued From Belmar House Fire

WALL, NJ — A dog is in recovery after Wall Township EMS provided him with life-saving treatment following a house fire in Belmar on Friday, authorities said.

Around 5 p.m. on Friday, the Belmar Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire on Briarwood Road, where two dogs were reported to be trapped inside the home.

Once emergency services arrived at the scene, crews started aggressive primary searches and stretched a 1 ¾” handline inside the home to try to find the dogs and bring the fire under control, Belmar Volunteer Hook & Ladder Fire Company said.

After conditions at the home improved, a crew was sent in for a secondary search, where one dog was found in a first-floor closet and safely removed from the home, and a second dog was safely found on the outside of the home by Belmar Police and brought to safety.

After being removed from the home, authorities said one of the dogs, a large German Shepherd named Luca, was lethargic, in respiratory distress and unable to move on his own.

Though transport to an animal hospital was deemed necessary to save Luca’s life, Wall Police Lt. Steven Nash said the homeowners had not yet arrived on scene, and due to the dog’s size, he could not be safely transported in a police vehicle.

Units on the scene were faced with a difficult decision in that moment, Nash said, and with approval from an on-scene supervisor, Wall Township EMS crews were able to provide oxygen to Luca, secure him on their stretcher, and bring him to Red Bank Animal Hospital, where he was later reported to be in stable condition.

“It is not the policy of Wall Township EMS to transport animals to veterinary facilities. Human life, specifically the safety and medical needs of firefighters actively working to suppress a fire, will always take priority,” Nash said. “In this instance, our EMTs weighed the circumstances and determined that immediate transport to a higher level of care was appropriate.”

“Our thoughts are with the victims of this fire, and we commend the actions of our EMTs who demonstrated sound judgment and compassion under significant pressure,” Nash continued. “Because of their decision and swift care, this family has one more member with them this holiday season.”

The fire in Belmar is currently under investigation by the Belmar Fire Bureau and the Monmouth County Fire Marshall’s Office.

Editor's Note: This article was updated with photos provided to Patch by Wall EMS.