Fire damage forces homeowner to gut and rebuild after Great Dane rescue

The financial and structural cost of a residential fire in Farmington Hills has materialized as a recommendation to demolish the interior of the home and rebuild it to the studs. Chelsey Forry, the property owner, stated that the smoke and heat from the blaze contaminated the living spaces and melted the kitchen, rendering the house uninhabitable. She is currently staying with her parents in a household that already includes two dogs, creating a temporary arrangement that involves four pets.

The incident began at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, when Farmington Hills Fire Engine No. 1 responded to a smoke alarm activation on Lauren Lane. The location is situated near Halstead Road, between Eight Mile and Nine Mile roads. Upon arrival, crews identified a structural fire and issued an all-call alert to the five local fire stations in the district. Firefighter Madison Gardenhire of Squad No. 3 was part of the third unit to arrive at the scene.

An occupant who was not inside the home when the fire started informed the crew that a Great Dane named Oscar was trapped on the second floor. Battalion chief directed the team to search and clear the upper level. Sergeant Chesney led the team into the stairwell, followed by Firefighter Walton and Gardenhire. They located Oscar at the top of the stairs, where he appeared to be attempting a self-rescue but was hindered by smoke inhalation.

The two-year-old Great Dane was conscious but struggling to breathe. The three firefighters carried the dog down the stairs to the front lawn. There, the team administered oxygen using a mask designed for animals. Firefighter Walton remained with the dog until he was transported to Blue Pearl, a 24-hour veterinary hospital in Southfield. Oscar was released from the hospital a few days later.

A second dog in the household, a 12-year-old Shiba Inu named Luffy, also escaped the home. Luffy managed to free itself when firefighters opened the door. The dog received oxygen treatment and was taken to the same veterinary facility. Gardenhire noted that this was her first time using the pet oxygen mask in the field during her three years as an active firefighter.

Sergeant John Harshbarger of the Farmington Hills Fire Department indicated that pet oxygen masks have been standard equipment on fire trucks for five to 10 years. He described the masks as necessary gear for incidents where pets are trapped, allowing crews to assist animals that are having difficulty breathing. The equipment is available in small, medium, and large sizes to accommodate different animal anatomy.

Forry attributed the survival of her pets to the 24-hour availability of the veterinary hospital, as the fire occurred during after-hours. She expressed gratitude for the outcome, describing her current living situation with her parents as a daily gathering of four dogs. She described the pets as alive and still exhibiting puppy-like behavior.

The Farmington Hills Fire Department cited the incident as a reminder for residents to maintain working smoke alarms on all floors of their homes. The department's assessment of the structural damage supports the recommendation for a full rebuild rather than a repair.