By Beth Danziger – NBC12

A Chesterfield family says they’re alive thanks to the family pet.

Their four-year-old lab, Buddy, was killed in a massive house fire off Regalia Place early Thursday morning. But, not before he was able to save a mother and her three children from the burning home.

The house fire destroyed the garage and most of this house. The family believes without Buddy’s bark they may not have woken in up in time.

As firefighters sifted through this charged rubble, owner Patrick Humphreys stood watching, remembering a pet who gave him his family back.

Humphreys was away on business when the fire ignited. Humphreys says, “He was playful crazy, not really good for home protection.”

But in the end, Buddy, was the best alarm the family could have had.

The smoke detectors didn’t sound until after the family was out and without Buddy’s bark none of them may have woken up in time because flames spread so quickly.

Chesterfield Fire Department Capt. Brian Kemp says, “If they had slept through it or not heard the barking we could be talking about something totally different.”

Humphreys believes the fire could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for the family’s fire
preparedness.

When Humphreys’ wife saw the flames in the garage, she shut the doors, trapping them in, giving the family more time to get out.

The oldest son also rescued his two-and-half-year-old sister from her bed when she didn’t wake up. Humphreys says, “I never thought they would have to use the skills but, it’s good they had the skills they were able to point it in the right way.”

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