Lucky dog saved from house fire

Miley the black labrador had a brush with death yesterday after being rescued from a blaze at his family's Hornby home.

Firefighters battling the Steele St fire found the family pet lying unresponsive under a bed and suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.

She was carried out of the burning home by firefighter Andrew Corner before reviving her on the front lawn with an oxygen mask.

The poorly pooch was rushed to a vet by St John paramedics, and last night was still under observation but making a recovery.

However, her family is devastated by the blaze which has destroyed their home.

Neighbour Toni Gebbie, 28, was home watching television yesterday afternoon when she heard "a cracking noise.''

Out her kitchen window, she saw flames rising from her neighbour's home.

"I ran into the street and saw my neighbour outside her house. I asked her if anyone was inside, and she said no.''

Toni phoned the fire service at 2.26pm.

Meanwhile, her sister Nicole Gebbie, tried to calm down her "distraught'' neighbour.

"I've never seen anyone so out of her mind, absolutely traumatised. It scared me,'' Nicole, a 26-year-old reception said.

"I sat down with her on the footpath, but she was up and down, and grabbing me. It was horrible to watch.

"It felt like ages before the firemen got here, but it probably wasn't very long at all.

"They put the fire out straight away, but the woman was so upset.''

Shortly after the fire was brought under control, firefighters found Miley and acted quickly - a move which saved her life, according to St John paramedic Curt Ward.

After dealing with "a human patient and deeming she was okay,'' he helped resuscitate Miley.

"We aren't trained to treat animals but we help where we can,'' he said.

Miley was taken to nearby Hornby Veterinary Centre in the back seat of a rapid response unit vehicle, which doesn't normally carry patients.

Last night, the vet said Miley was on oxygen, under observation every 30 minutes, but "seems to be doing okay.''

A second family dog managed to escape the fire, and was being cared for by another family in the street.

While fire safety investigators scoured the charred remains of the couple's kitchen, Harewood acting fire station officer Steve Heritage paid tribute to his colleague for saving Miley's life.

"Andrew was bloody lucky to find the dog. He did well.''

The woman's partner came home shortly after Miley was taken away by paramedics, having rushed away from work.