The dog kept trying to get his owner’s attention, and although she initially ignored him, he wouldn’t stop. Finally, she got up to see what was wrong. When she went outside, she discovered a fire burning inside a nearby garage in Palos Hills.
She rushed back upstairs, grabbed her cellphone and called 911. Police officers arrived before she had finished the call, followed shortly by the fire department.
The fire threatened a garage complex shared by residents, with more than 10 garages and more than 20 vehicles inside. There was also a man inside a truck as the fire unfolded. He was later taken by ambulance to an emergency room after smoke exposure and other complications.
Officer Daniel Jurczak was among the first responders at the scene. Before firefighters arrived, he tried to fight the flames with whatever was available.
Fire Chief Dave Gaskill later said the fire could have spread in another direction if responders had arrived any later. With so many vehicles and flammable materials nearby, the risk was significant.
Information shared about the incident indicated that a cigarette, believed to have been extinguished after being dropped, may have ignited a wheelchair or nearby combustible material. The precise cause of the fire was not established in the information provided.
JoeJoe’s part in the incident began with a dog refusing to be ignored. His barking prompted his owner to get out of bed, investigate and call for help.
JoeJoe is no stranger to attention in Chicago’s western suburbs. He has appeared in print advertising campaigns for several companies and has been featured in news articles. He also serves as the mascot for Heavenly Orphans Project, a nonprofit that helps people and animals in need, including veterans, homeless individuals and rescued pets.
Since the fire, people in the community have shown their appreciation by bringing JoeJoe gift cards and other tokens of thanks.
His owner hopes the incident reminds other pet owners to pay attention when their dogs act out of the ordinary, even in the middle of the night.
“Pay attention to your pups. You never know what they are trying to tell you. No matter what time of night it is, get up and check,” said JoeJoe’s owner, Miss Venus. “This fire would not have ended well if it wasn’t for JoeJoe.”
At about 3 a.m. Oct. 16, while most people were fast asleep, JoeJoe had something to say.
The dog kept trying to get his owner’s attention, and although she initially ignored him, he wouldn’t stop. Finally, she got up to see what was wrong. When she went outside, she discovered a fire burning inside a nearby garage in Palos Hills.
She rushed back upstairs, grabbed her cellphone and called 911. Police officers arrived before she had finished the call, followed shortly by the fire department.
The fire threatened a garage complex shared by residents, with more than 10 garages and more than 20 vehicles inside. There was also a man inside a truck as the fire unfolded. He was later taken by ambulance to an emergency room after smoke exposure and other complications.
Officer Daniel Jurczak was among the first responders at the scene. Before firefighters arrived, he tried to fight the flames with whatever was available.
Fire Chief Dave Gaskill later said the fire could have spread in another direction if responders had arrived any later. With so many vehicles and flammable materials nearby, the risk was significant.
Information shared about the incident indicated that a cigarette, believed to have been extinguished after being dropped, may have ignited a wheelchair or nearby combustible material. The precise cause of the fire was not established in the information provided.
JoeJoe’s part in the incident began with a dog refusing to be ignored. His barking prompted his owner to get out of bed, investigate and call for help.
JoeJoe is no stranger to attention in Chicago’s western suburbs. He has appeared in print advertising campaigns for several companies and has been featured in news articles. He also serves as the mascot for Heavenly Orphans Project, a nonprofit that helps people and animals in need, including veterans, homeless individuals and rescued pets.
Since the fire, people in the community have shown their appreciation by bringing JoeJoe gift cards and other tokens of thanks.
His owner hopes the incident reminds other pet owners to pay attention when their dogs act out of the ordinary, even in the middle of the night.
“Pay attention to your pups. You never know what they are trying to tell you. No matter what time of night it is, get up and check,” said JoeJoe’s owner, Miss Venus. “This fire would not have ended well if it wasn’t for JoeJoe.”