Firefighters Rescue Two Dogs in Smoky Blaze on Old Field Road *Video*

Firefighters rescued two dogs from the second floor of an Old Field Road house that was on fire late Thursday, but two cats perished in the blaze.

A woman in the house, who was not identified by firefighters, was taken by AMR Ambulance Co. to Bridgeport Hospital for smoke inhalation, firefighters said. She met firefighters outside the house about 11:53 p.m., with smoke and soot on her face, and told firefighters she had numerous pets inside that she couldn't find due to the smoke and heat, according to the Fire Department's report.

Firefighters found two dogs, barely breathing and unresponsive, in a second-floor bedroom and carried them outside, where firefighters gave them oxygen until the town's Animal Control officers arrived to take them to an emergency animal hospital in Norwalk, according to the Fire Department's report. Two of four cats, also found on the second floor, could not be revived and were taken to the Animal Control Department on One Rod Highway.

Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bisson, the incident commander, credited a working smoke detector with saving the lives of the woman and her dogs. "While we are sad for the loss of the owners' two cats in this tragic fire, the presence of a working smoke detector outside of her bedroom directly resulted in saving the lives of the occupant as well as her two dogs," he said in the report.

Arriving firefighters found thick brown smoke coming from the first and second floor windows of the single-family house at 325 Old Field Road. Firefighters located and controlled the fire on the second floor, searched for the pets and ventilated smoke and heat from the house to prevent the fire from entering the attic, according to the report.

The fire, under control in about 20 minutes, caused about $40,000 damage to the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fairfield Fire Marshal's Office, according to the Fire Department's report.

Susan Croce is listed on tax records as the owner of the house. It was most recently assessed at $403,830, was built in 1940 and sits on 0.14 acre, according to tax records.

Bisson said the house is habitable but needs extensive repairs. Peter Schumann, a local animal trainer, aided firefighters in the care of the dogs, according to the report.

A firefighter received minor injuries during the dog rescue and was taken to a Bridgeport hospital to be evaluated.

Bisson said residents should check batteries on their smoke detectors on a monthly basis and should leave their house and call 911 if an alarm sounds to ensure a fast response by firefighters.