Family dog credited with saving Ayer homeowner from overnight fire

An Ayer man has a very good dog to thank for waking him up in time to escape a fire in his home in the early hours of Monday morning.

Ayer firefighters responded to the home in Mulberry Circle shortly after 1:30 a.m. for a report of a building fire, according to a statement from the department.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a kitchen fire on the first floor of the home. The homeowner, who had safely evacuated by then, said he was woken up by his dog and soon noticed smoke filling the upper levels of the home. There were no working smoke alarms in the living area of the home, officials noted.

The dog was still inside the building when fire crews arrived.

After knocking down the fire in the kitchen and checking other areas of the house for extension, crews located the dog on the second floor suffering from smoke inhalation. Emergency personnel provided oxygen at the scene and then, Ayer police helped the homeowner take the dog to an emergency veterinarian in Westford. The family pet is reportedly in stable condition, officials said.

“This incident was a near miss that could have had a very different outcome if not for the lucky and well-timed intervention of the family dog,” the Ayer Fire Department wrote on Facebook. “EVERY home needs to have working smoke alarms on every habitable level and within 10 feet of every bedroom. This homeowner was extremely lucky to survive the fire unscathed.

“We cannot overstate the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home,” the department continued. “If you have questions about the smoke alarms in your home, please call us at (978) 772 – 8231. We’re always happy to answer questions over the phone or schedule a home visit.”

Firefighters from Shirley, Littleton, Devens, Lunenburg, and Groton provided mutual aid, and an engine from Westford Fire Department provided station coverage amid the response.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.