Setting up Christmas decorations is a tradition that is both fun and satisfying. It sets the proper mood for the holiday season. But did you actually know that there are hundreds of home fires that started because homeowners did not properly set up their electrical wirings?
According to US Fire Departments, millions of dollars in direct property damage, as well as fire injuries and deaths can be attributed to faulty setups.
One family in Virginia would have been another statistic if it weren’t for their pet, a senior rescue dog.
Keen sense of smell
When Jan Brickhart adopted Pippa from a shelter, she didn’t know that several years later, she will be saving their lives.
One early Sunday morning, around two a.m., the nine-year-old pooch was awakened by the smell of smoke. As the fire started outside, the smoke detectors didn’t pick it up yet. Knowing that the smoke can mean danger to her family, Pippa started barking furiously.
Jan heard the dog’s incessant noise and was instantly worried. She had never heard Pippa bark so ferocious, so she suspected that someone must have broken into their house. She went out of her room to investigate, and that’s when she realized that their house was on fire.
Wasting no time, Jan ran from room to room, waking up all of her family members. She had to get them out to safety. By the time they got out, someone had already called 911, and the firefighters were on their way.
Save the dog
After the family has settled down, Jan realized that Pippa, and her other dog, was not among them. Through all the confusion, they forgot to bring their pets along with them. The worried dog owner rushed back in, running through the thick smoke.
Thankfully, the firefighters have arrived, and they ran after them. They got Jan and her pets out safely.
After the fire was controlled, the authorities discovered its source. One of the extension cords used was not appropriate for the outdoors, and it shorted.
Source: Jan Bickhart Facebook