A HERO pet dog who helped saved the life of his family after a fire broke out in their home has been nominated for a national bravery award.
The Ash family were fast asleep at their home in Britannia Avenue, Dartmouth, on Saturday, May 28, when Diesel the Staffordshire bull terrier alerted them that something was wrong.
The Staffie, whom the family adopted from Animals in Distress in Ipplepen last year, woke up from where he was sleeping at the bottom of Jordan Ash’s bed and began barking, burrowing and scratching at the duvet, before licking Jordan’s face to wake him.
Jordan got up and opened the bedroom door to see a wall of flames half way up the stairs, only six feet away from him.
He pushed his mum and dad’s bedroom door open and ran in to wake them up.
Jordan’s dad climbed out of the spare bedroom window and together they helped his mum to get out onto the kitchen roof.
Jordan ran back to get Diesel, who was now hiding under the bed, terrified.
The whole upper storey of the house was filled with smoke and Jordan almost fainted when picking up Diesel but managed to get himself together and ran out with Diesel. The fire was so close, as they ran past that Diesel’s whiskers were singed in the flames.
Jordan passed Diesel out of the window to his dad and then jumped out onto the kitchen roof, from where they were all able to climb down.
The house was completely gutted by the fire, which had been caused by their freezer catching fire. Everything was gone, including the staircase, and the whole house is now being refitted.
At the time, Dartmouth fire station commander Neil Whitemore said: ‘The family were very lucky. But for the dog, they just wouldn’t have been aware of it.’
A spokesman for Animals in Distress said ‘We are all so proud of Diesel. He definitely saved his family’s lives. Diesel was at the rescue centre for a long time before the Ash family came along to adopt him. People often overlook Staffies, as they have a bad reputation.
‘In fact, Staffies are loyal and friendly dogs who love people and can make wonderful family pets. They are brilliant with children, and are brave, but enjoy playing more than being tough.’
Diesel is being nominated by the rescue centre for an Animal Hero Award and a PDSA Commendation for Devotion and Bravery.