La Pine dog gets oxygen boost after fiery rescue

They say cats have nine lives, but Diablo the black lab may have used up one of his Tuesday when fire struck his family’s La Pine mobile home, leaving the dog choking on smoke and hiding under a bed.

But fortunately, a neighbor with a garden hose helped knock down the flames – and firefighters who found and rescued the pooch used a pet oxygen mask to revive him.

The La Pine rural Fire District responded around 3 p.m. to a report of a roof on fire at a double-wide mobile home at 15505 Brooks Lane, said fire Capt. Fred Franklin.

Arriving crews found contents and the attic on fire, but a neighbor using a garden hose had it partly out.

No family members were home when the fire broke out, and they arrived shortly after firefighters, Franklin said. However, they did say their dog, Diablo, likely was inside.

Firefighters went into smoky home and searched for the dog, finding him hiding under a bed, lethargic and suffering from hypoxia and smoke inhalation.

Fire crews brought Diablo out to some fresh air and gave him oxygen from a pet oxygen mask donated to the fire district by Wag’n Enterprises a few years ago.

“This is the first time we’ve used these masks, and it worked like a champ,” Franklin said. After the oxygen, some cleanup and a drink of water, “Diablo was back up and running like a puppy,” he added, noting that the dog “appears healthy and uninjured.

The house didn’t fare as well, sustaining heavy smoke and heat damage from the fire, believed to have started in the dining area due to an overheated TV or other electronics gear, the fire captain said.

The displaced homeowners will be staying with friends, Franklin said.

The Red Cross responded to the scene and helped the three adults affected with lodging, food, clothing, comfort kids and information about other services.