FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Medics took a Fort Lauderdale police officer to a local hospital on Tuesday after she was “overcome by smoke” while searching for a dog inside a burning apartment.
According to first responders, the fire broke out at around 9:20 a.m. at 742 NW 13th Terrace, about two blocks north of Sistrunk Boulevard.
“The fire, which started in the kitchen, was quickly extinguished and the dog (was) found and rescued safely,” Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials said on social media platform X.
The fire broke out while two teenagers were inside the apartment.
A woman who lives at the home said she got a call from one of her children not knowing if they made it out. Their dog Rocky was still trapped inside.
“My son had just come from work, but my daughter was asleep inside,” she said. “When I came here, there was just a whole bunch of fire departments and she just kept calling me saying we can’t find the dog we can’t find the dog.”
She added, “They were all OK. Thank God.”
The woman said the fire started as one of her children tried to make something to eat.
“I guess he was going to go cook something and as soon as he turned on the stove it just burst into flames,” she said.
A firefighter eventually saved Rocky.
The police officer was taken to the hospital for “evaluation,” agency officials said. A Fort Lauderdale Police Department spokesperson characterized her hospital visit as precautionary.
She was later released from the hospital.
The American Red Cross says it’s helping six people affected by the blaze.