Pets saved as flames nearly destroy home

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2008 09:50 AM |

by ABC-7 Reporter/Meteorologist Andrew Chung

EL PASO, Texas -- Flames nearly destroyed a house in Northeast El Paso Thursday morning. However, this tragedy had a silver lining.

Edwin Collazo, a Fort Bliss soldier, is the home's tenant.

"Basically I was at work but my wife called me and she said the house was on fire," Collazo said.

Fire officials said an extension cord used for a portable heater started the blaze.

"The extension cord was those that you use for temporary use as far as for decorations...it shorted out; it overheated," said John Concha, a spokesman for the El Paso Fire Department.

With the exception of four mice, firefighters were able to save the rest of Collazo's 19 pets, including dogs, fish and two ferrets.

Collazo noticed that one of the ferrets appeared to be unconscious due to the smoke. That's when one of the firefighters had him put an oxygen mask on the animal.

"I didn't know they had something like that, you know, and they actually brought it over and handed it to me and told me just to keep giving oxygen to the ferret, and eventually the ferret actually started getting more active and more active, and now it's fine," he said.

Collazo's wife was evacuated from the house safely. She was treated for smoke inhalation at Beaumont Hospital and released.

Collazo said his pets, which he considers family, will be checked out at the vet.

The estimated damage to the home is around $45,000.