Fairfield Police Department officers rescued the lives of nearly 50 dogs after a fire filled a pet hotel in New Jersey with deadly smoke.
Officers responded to a 911 call about smoke rising from the Pio Costa Industrial Complex on April 20.
Upon arrival, they saw building number 9, which housed the K9 Resorts hotel, a full-time dog boarding facility, filled to the brim with smoke and nearby businesses on fire.
Body camera footage shows officers forcing their way through several locked doors of the building without any equipment to save the pets.
According to the police department, all 46 dogs were successfully evacuated and moved to a separate facility at that time.
Upon arrival, Fairfield Police Department officers saw building number 9, which housed the K9 Resorts hotel, filled to the brim with smoke and nearby businesses were on fire.
The canines are currently being checked by veterinary professionals out of an abundance of caution.
Body camera footage shows officers forcing their way through several locked doors of the building without any equipment to save the pets.
Fairfield Police Officer Stacy Chiarolanza said, “There was a brief moment where a dog was missing and like a storybook ending, one of the officers came out with the dog in his arms.”
The canines are currently being examined by veterinary professionals out of an abundance of caution.
on a facebook mailThe department clarified that a Fairfield police officer suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital from the scene for treatment.
said Fairfield Police Officer Stacy Chiarolanza. NBC, ‘It was a little bit of everything. Taking them, the smaller dogs, but we also found a bunch of leashes inside, and we were able to tie the dogs up to take them back.
‘There was a brief moment when a dog was missing and, like at the end of a storybook, one of the police officers came out with the dog in his arms.
‘It’s a great feeling. We know this could have turned out worse. I had four of my officers go in without their breathing apparatus and risked their lives to save these dogs. They may not call themselves heroes, but we all know they are, absolutely.
In a Facebook post, the department clarified that a Fairfield police officer suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital from the scene for treatment.
Authorities later said the most fire damage occurred in the area of MR Convenience and Smoke Shop.
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel is an affordable luxury dog boarding and dog daycare program in Fairfield, New Jersey.
Graham Clarke, the man who called police on 911, said he and his wife had closed the doors to their workshop and were heading home when they saw the fire.
He explained, “We called 911 and I looked to see if anyone was in obvious danger.”
‘As soon as we knew there were dogs in the building we thought, “Well, people are going to come in and take the dogs out, we need someone outside to restrain them.” So me and my wife and some friends who were working late here were corralling the dogs.’
Authorities later said the most fire damage occurred in the area of MR Convenience and Smoke Shop.
Other nearby businesses, including Eatery Care Kitchen, Bella Art Tattoo and the K9 Resorts Hotel, suffered smoke damage.
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel is an affordable luxury dog boarding and dog daycare program in Fairfield, New Jersey.
The Fairfield Police Department has said an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.