Four firefighters were injured while battling a house fire in Palm Coast that destroyed the home of resident Tovia House-Caldwell and left her family without a home. Her dog was trapped inside as the flames spread.
FOX 35 reported that the fire displaced House-Caldwell and her family and destroyed their home. The outlet also reported four firefighter injuries. Its video report is available from FOX 35 Orlando, and its account of the destroyed home is at fox35orlando.com.
Dog Pulled From the Flames, Revived With CPR
FOX 35 reported that Kira, a 4-year-old Great Dane mix, was trapped inside. Flagler County Fire Rescue firefighters pulled her out and performed CPR. She is recovering at an animal hospital, where she is receiving intensive care for smoke inhalation and neurological damage, according to the outlet.
The rescue stands out as a rare bright spot in an otherwise devastating night for the family, who lost their home entirely. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the outlet's report notes, leaving open the question of what sparked the blaze that cost the family their house and nearly cost Kira her life.
Firefighter Injuries Fit a Broader Pattern
National figures offer context on the physical risks of firefighting, but do not establish the nature of the injuries in this Palm Coast incident. NFPA Research reported that strains, sprains or muscular pain accounted for 43 percent of firefighter injuries during fireground operations.
Residential Fire Injuries in Florida
According to the Florida State Fire Marshal's 2020 annual report, 479 civilians were injured in fires statewide. Residential properties accounted for the greatest number of fire injuries among structure fires.
The incident also follows a separate case in Flagler County earlier this year, when a firefighter was hospitalized after being injured while battling a house fire in Flagler Beach in March, according to WFTV. That earlier incident involved one injured firefighter rather than four, and the two fires are not known to be connected.
No further details on the extent of the firefighters' injuries, the family's displacement arrangements or the fire's cause have been released. Kira continues her recovery at the animal hospital.
