Flames tore through an apartment unit in southwest Oklahoma City early Tuesday, jolting the neighborhood awake around 1:40 a.m. Fire crews rushed to the building tucked behind a house near Southwest 25th Street and South Western Avenue, pulling at least one resident out to safety and reporting no human injuries. Inside, though, the scene turned heartbreaking as firefighters rescued a dog and a puppy but later found another dog and her litter of puppies dead while searching the smoke-filled unit.
What officials reported
According to KOCO, Oklahoma City firefighters knocked down the blaze and stayed on scene into the early morning to investigate. The station reported that at least one person was displaced by the fire and that the exact cause is still under investigation.
Pets and fire safety
The loss of animals in the unit is a harsh reminder of how quickly pets can be overtaken by smoke and flames, even when people make it out. The American Red Cross urges pet owners to keep leashes and carriers near exits, place pet-alert stickers on windows and practice home escape plans that include animals so firefighters know to look for them.
History on the block
This corner of Southwest 25th and South Western has already seen more than its share of fire calls this season. KOCO previously covered a significant blaze at a vacant restaurant near the same intersection that drew a large response and triggered an investigation into what sparked it.
Fire investigators have not yet released a confirmed cause for the latest blaze. Residents who want to track official updates can check the Oklahoma City Fire Department's daily structure-fire reports on the City of Oklahoma City's website, where incident records and contact information are posted.
