While it is said that dogs are mans best friends, one canine on George’s Road might see it the other way around.
The Monmouth Junction fire Department responded to the home at 8:39 a.m. April 27 after the resident returned home and found her kitchen on fire, according to police.
The resident was able to get one of her dogs out of the home, which had heavy smoke in the rooms, police said.
Patrolman Ryan Bartunek arrived on the scene and was able to use a fire extinguisher to limit the spread of the fire as the firefighters arrived.
As the Monmouth Junction firefighters battled the blaze in the kitchen, firefighters Dave Furch and Mr. Raber searched the residence, according to police.
They were able to locate the second dog, Sophie, a 10-month-old boxer hiding under one of the children’s beds.
The pair removed the dog from the home and it was given oxygen by medics on the scene, according to police.
Sophie was then reunited with its family, police said.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in about 10 minutes, containing most of the fire’s damage to the kitchen, but smoke damage spread throughout the house causing it to be uninhabitable, according to police.
The family is now staying with relatives in the area, according to police.
The homeowner, Susan Strath-Joy was very grateful to the firefighters that responded.
”It was the scariest thing to see all the smoke,” Ms. Strath-Joy said. “ The firefighters did a great job, I am so thankful.”
There were no injuries, according to police.
In addition to Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park and Kingston also responded to the scene.
The fire remains under investigation by the township’s Fire Safety Bureau.
