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Fire Crews were called to 365 West Housatonic St. in Pittsfield just before 8:30 a.m. after multiple people called 911 to report smoke pouring from the home, the Pittsfield Department said. One of the callers told firefighters that the homeowners weren't home, but two dogs were stuck inside.
When firefighters arrived, it was as callers reported. The bungalow-style home was engulfed in flames.
Fire crews began to attack the fire while other firefighters forced their way inside to find the dogs.
The home's layout hampered and hindered their efforts at every turn.
"This was a smaller style home with tight transitions between rooms, and the extremely heavy smoke conditions throughout hampered efforts to find the fire and search for the dogs," a news release about the rescue said.
As they searched the home, other crews found the heart of the fire — the kitchen — and beat back the flames enough for the search team to find the dogs in an office off of the back kitchen.
A closed door prevented the flames from reaching the dogs and likely kept them alive long enough to be rescued. Firefighters walked them out of the home and into fresh air.
No one else was injured, but paramedics took one firefighter to Berkshire Medical Center for heat exhaustion.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Pittsfield Fire Department thanked all those who called 911 and said their quick actions allowed firefighters to get there fast enough to rescue the animals.
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