Three deputies pulled a wheelchair-bound woman and one of her dogs to safety after a Merritt Island home caught fire early Friday.
- Fire breaks out at Merritt Island home
- Deputies pull unconscious woman, dog to safety
- A 2nd dog escaped on its own
Brevard County deputies Jesse Doucette, Ben Fischer and Robert Bennett were dispatched to the home on Lynne Drive after a call about a fire.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Doucette was the first to arrive, and as he got out of his patrol car, bystanders yelled, “She’s still in there!"
Spotting a woman inside slumped over in a wheelchair, he crawled through heat and smoke, making his way to the unconscious woman. He then dragged her to safety. Fisher administered first aid until fire rescue personnel arrived, and the woman was then taken to a hospital.
Meanwhile, Bennett arrived and found a dog lying unconscious inside the home. He crawled to the dog, dragged it to safety and used an oxygen tank revive it.
A second dog got out of the home on its own, apparently unharmed.
Brevard Animal Control responded to the scene and treated the pets for smoke inhalation.
Officials think the fire was likely caused by a faulty space heater in one of the bedrooms.