Columbia Firefighter's Save Dog

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Fire gutted a home off Two Notch Road in Columbia before the fire department got the fire under control around 4:00pm Friday.

It happened on Knightbridge Road, according to Columbia fire officials. Firefighters say no one was home when the fire started, but there was a dog in the house.

His little wet nose can breathe fresh air now, but one-year-old Teddy nearly died of smoke inhalation while stuck alone inside the smoke-filled house.

Columbia firefighter Blake Harlin sat with the Chinese pug and revived him with an oxygen mask.

"He started licking the mask and he knew that oxygen was helping him," said Harlin. "So It kind of made me feel really good."

Firefighters say they found Teddy under the bed in the master bedroom. They say he was lying unconscious."

"Eyes were closed, very belabored breathing, motionless otherwise," said Harlin.

For 20 long minutes, Harlin held that oxygen mask to Teddy's face with no response. Then, the little pup finally opened his eyes.

"He started looking very confused," said Harlin. "Very confused, and then he wanted to get up and walk around. And I had to hold him back down for a little while longer and make sure he was okay, I didn't want him to hurt himself."

Teddy is back in the world without a scratch. He was happy to reunite with his owners, who were away when the fire started.

Painter Shannon Killman noticed the smoke from a few houses down.

"It was pretty intense," said Killman, who shot video of the burning garage with his cell phone. "Both the garage doors were open and flames were coming off both doors at that time."

Officials believe the fire started from a hot water heater or refrigerator in the garage. firefighters were able to put it out, before it consumed the house, and little teddy.

WIS News 10: How good does it feel to see that dog alive and know he's back with the owners?
Harlin: Awesome! Awesome!"