SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A car fire at the Target parking area in South Charleston turned fatal for a dog. When South Charleston firemens reacted Monday afternoon, they discovered a canine locked inside and smoke and flames.
South Charleston Fire Department Chief Virgil White said firemens broke out the windows of the burning SUV to get in and rescue a pit bull.
“They did locate the dog in the back seat, so they immediately grabbed the dog and took it out of the vehicle, and they started life saving measures on the dog,” White said.
The call initially was available in as a car on fire at the Target parking area and when very first responders showed up, they discovered a dog might be within. White said the SUV was running, and the dog was left inside the 2010 GMC Yukon.
“The dog was in the car by itself the vehicle was running at the time when the fire started,” White said.
Firefighters started CPR on the pit bull and carried it to a regional veterinary health center.
“Whether it is a person or an animal, we always try to save a life and if we can do so we will,” White said. “It was struggling to breath. A lot of smoke inhalation, as you can imagine from the fire, because the car was full of smoke.”
White said never ever leave family pets in the car, whether it is running or not.
“Don’t leave your pets in the vehicle unattended in the vehicle that is the main thing for this,” White said.
White said the dog’s owner was going shopping when the event occurred and came outside.
Firefighters said the reason for the fire is undetermined.
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