The 8-inch tall puppy put up such a fuss just before 1 a.m. that 15-year-old Hailiegh Sanchez and a friend were able to rescue it from the unlocked duplex in the 300 block of North Sixth Street.
“She sounded distressed,” Hailiegh said. “It was a real yelping sound - high pitched.”
Hailiegh also noticed a glow inside the residence, like someone had left a light on.
Moments later there was heavy smoke and flames billowing out the back of the house.
The fire was just one of several that kept firefighters busy on the Fourth of July and early Sunday.
Central Station by itself responded to 16 fire and medical calls in their 18-hour shift that began on the Fourth and ended early Sunday.
Besides the duplex fire, there were nine grass fires on the Fourth that fire officials suspect may have been caused by illegal fireworks, said Thomas Pechal, Temple Fire and Rescue public information officer. Four of the fires were in the hour before midnight.
One of the grass fires, off Antelope and Hopi Trail just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday, prompted an evacuation of nearby homes. The fire was in a dense, brushy area in the Western Hills neighborhood
Temple police officers went door to door to notify people in the neighborhood to evacuate and an evacuation site was established at the Scott & White Continuing Care Hospital on Kegley Road, Pechal said.
The department responded with four engine companies, one brush crew and the fire incident commander - a total of 16 personnel.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes at 12:30 a.m.
While firefighters battled that grass fire, they were called to the fire on North Sixth Street where neighbors said the tenants had moved out during the week, returning Saturday to collect a few items.
The puppy that was left behind was immediately give the appropriate name Lucky.
“She was really thirsty when we got her,” its rescuer Hailiegh said.
The energetic puppy will be housed at the Temple Animal Shelter.
“She will be adoptable in three days,” said Walter Hertzel, Animal Services supervisor. “This gives a chance for the owners to claim her.”
Animals are adoptable from the shelter by calling 254-298-5770?.
