Fluffy the dog saves family from fire

Fluffy the dog saved the lives of four people in a fire at their rented Whangaparaoa home this week.

The six-year-old bichon frise’s frantic barking about midnight woke Trina Smith, who had fallen asleep on son Michael’s bed on Sunday.

"I woke to find the room filled with smoke – thick, choking smoke that was so heavy," says Mrs Smith.

"I heard an explosion, and I was so confused and disorientated."

She called down the hall to husband Basil, asleep in their bedroom, but says she couldn’t even see anything in front of her.

Also asleep down the end of the hall was Charlie, who is looked after by the Smiths as he is blind and has cerebral palsy.

"Michael and I could hardly see," says Mrs Smith.

"We got outside the ranchslider onto a deck and we still couldn’t get away from the thick, gritty smoke. I opened the lounge door from the deck and went through to the front of the house and outside. I couldn’t get away from the smoke until I was out the front of the house."

She met Basil and Charlie and their other dog outside and ran to the neighbours who called 111.

"I was all dazed and confused and in shock," says Mrs Smith. "It just got bigger and bigger."

Emergency services arrived quickly, but Mrs Smith says she has no recollection of time.

"I was in a panic. Everything was in a go-slow. I really had no concept of time. The ambulance came and took us to North Shore Hospital where we were treated for shock and smoke inhalation and had blood tests."

She says the firefighters were excellent and moved very quickly.

"I had just graduated from Massey University and they took my certificate off the wall and saved it – they didn’t have to do that."

The family, which doesn’t have insurance, spent the night in hospital with sore throats and soot up their noses.

"They treated us so great – they were really friendly and positive. All of the nurses and security staff and other patients came and said ‘hi’, and they did a collection for us."

The family returned on Monday morning to find most of their possessions destroyed.

"The house is structurally safe to stand in but uninhabitable," says Mrs Smith. "Charlie and Michael lost a lot."

The family lost a television, furniture, computers, beds, clothes, and everything in the kitchen.

"We had a talking microwave, for Charlie from the Blind Foundation, which was destroyed, and a special computer," says Mrs Smith.

A new bathrobe Basil got for Father’s Day had burn marks through it.

The family had celebrated the day with a special meal of deep fried fish and chips, with apple pie for dessert – Basil’s favourite.

Mrs Smith says they had an early dinner at 5pm and she turned the oven off and left the pot with oil on the element to clean in the morning. But, as she learnt later, the element had been left on a very low heat as the switch hadn’t quite been turned off.

"The fire chief said the soft heat of the element over hours on a low heat caused the oil to heat up and catch fire. I thought it was off. It was just warm enough to make it heat over time and explode. I didn’t even know oil could do that," says Mrs Smith.

"It’ll be a Fathers day he’s never going to forget."

The couple were renting the house on Tower Hill Rd, and Trina says their landlords have been very supportive.

"We have been renting here for five years and they are just incredible. We have a good relationship with them. We are staying with my mum in Arkles Bay, but Michael is at a friends as there’s not enough room."

She says everything you hear about dropping to your knees in a fire is hard to remember in an emergency.

"I’m usually good in an emergency, but when you wake to your room full of thick smoke it’s either fight or flight. I raised the alarm and just got out of the house. I just grabbed my son and the dog, I was in a state of panic.

"At least we are all okay. All these things can be replaced. It was an extra delight that my photos weren’t destroyed."

"I just want to say thank you to the fire crew, to the staff at North Shore Hospita;, to our neighbours and friends, and to our landlord."

If anyone can help or has a skip bin to clear the house contact Lola on 09 428-7535.

- © Fairfax NZ News