CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- As firefighters worked to fully extinguish the flames of a Chesterfield County home Monday afternoon, homeowners breathed a sigh of relief. Although they weren’t at their home in the 9800 block of River Road, their beloved animals were home alone when the fire started.
Thanks to the quick actions of a neighbor all the pets made it out safely.
Neighbor Brooks Wallace was inside his home on River Road, when he noticed flames and smoke coming from his neighbor's house. The military veteran informed firefighters that his neighbor's pets were in the house.
But he didn't stop there, he put his t-shirt over his face and ran into the back of the home with a firefighter to retrieve homeowner’s dog and cat.
"Real thick smoke, a lot of heat, I had to go out multiple times and go back in. The farther in, that's when I seen her," he said.
Wallace said he first noticed the cat, called Fat Cat, shielding Ruby, a Yorkie puppy, from the smoke.
Wallace and a firefighter were able to rescue both of pets before it was too late. Both animals received oxygen on the scene and are expected to be OK.
Wallace was just happy he was home and able to help.
"Just being neighborly for the most part," he said. "I'm just glad that I was here."
Fire officials said the two people who live in the home were displaced due to significant damage to the first floor.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
River Road, which was blocked off during the fire, has reopened.