An elderly man and woman, along with five dogs, were pulled from a burning home on Oak Leaf Drive in Olive Branch Thursday night, after firefighters found the man trapped and confused in a rear bathroom as flames tore through the kitchen and living room.
Olive Branch Fire Department crews responded to a possible structure fire in the 10000 block of Oak Leaf Drive around 7 p.m. on October 29, according to the department, as reported by FOX13 Memphis. Firefighters arriving on scene observed smoke coming from the home and soon encountered heavy smoke and flames concentrated in the kitchen and living room. Olive Branch police officers had arrived before firefighters and found an elderly woman inside the residence, helping her escape on foot along with two dogs.
Crews pushed deeper into the house and located the elderly man trapped inside a back bathroom as flames spread through the home, according to actionnews5.com. He was rushed to Regional One Health, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and esophageal burns; officials with the Olive Branch Fire Department expect him to make a full recovery. The woman was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Firefighters Also Freed Three More Dogs From the Smoke-Filled House
Beyond the two dogs that escaped with the woman, firefighters found three additional dogs still inside the house and rescued and treated them on scene, bringing the total number of rescued dogs to five. EMS crews assisted with evaluating and treating the animals, and all five dogs were assessed as okay following those medical assessments, according to the fire department. Three ambulances responded to the scene, and emergency medical personnel provided treatment and transportation for both residents.
Additional firefighters assisted with extinguishing the fire, supplying water to crews and searching the home, while others worked to disconnect utilities at the residence and ventilate it to clear out smoke. Firefighters ultimately contained the fire to the kitchen and living room, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the home. No firefighters reported injuries during the response.
Fire's Cause Still Not Pinned Down
Investigators believe the fire originated in the kitchen area, FOX13 Memphis reported, though the station noted the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined. A separate account from actionnews5.com described investigators as having determined the fire started in the kitchen while also stating the exact cause remains under investigation.
Older adults face a notably higher fire risk than the general population; the U.S. Fire Administration notes that older adults are 2.5 times more likely to die in fires, with that risk climbing further with age. Thursday's rescue in Olive Branch contrasts with other local fires: a 2021 house fire at 1894 Highway 305 in Olive Branch killed 41-year-old Shannon Hudson, according to desotocountynews.com, with another occupant suffering hand injuries while trying unsuccessfully to pull her from the home. Firefighters from the Lewisburg, ACI and Fairhaven volunteer departments joined Olive Branch crews on that call.
Other Olive Branch fires have ended without injury. In April 2025, fire crews rescued a single dog from a burning home and extinguished the blaze, per actionnews5.com's earlier reporting, while a separate Olive Branch house fire covered by wreg.com saw occupants escape on their own before crews arrived, with no one hurt.
