Family, dog narrowly escape Lady’s Island fire

A Lady’s Island couple and their dog narrowly escaped a fire that destroyed their RV and spread to their house early Monday morning.

The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. on Blythewood Street when one of the residents woke up to what he described as an “explosion-type” noise, according to Lady’s Island-St. Helena Island Fire District spokesman Scott Harris.

Upon seeing the RV fire, the couple fled their home and called 9-1-1, Harris said. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread to the house.

Firefighters were told that the couple’s dog was still inside and two lieutenants who were inside the house were able to save it.

Beaufort County paramedics put an oxygen mask on the small dog and listened to her heart rate and breathing, Harris said.

At that time, she was lethargic and had a heart rate of only 30 beats per minute, but was back to normal after 15 minutes of treatment.

The home had fire and smoke damage, and the RV was a total loss, Harris said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 8:43 AM with the headline "Family, dog narrowly escape Lady’s Island fire."