Officer rescues puppy

By Dan Hilborn
Aug. 17, 2005


A south Burnaby family is singing the praises of a Burnaby RCMP officer who risked his life to rescue their six-week-old Labrador retriever from a smoke-filled apartment last Friday afternoon.

"He was a godsend," Elizabeth Ayomagbemi said of the quick action by Const. Steve McKeddie who was taken to hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation after rescuing the little dog named Roxy.

The incident apparently started around 5:35 p.m., Aug. 19, when police were called to the 7100 block of 14th Avenue to investigate reports of possible gunshots. That's when two of Ayomagbemi's children noticed smoke coming from their apartment and turned to the police officer for assistance.

The officer ran into the smoke-filled suite and rescued the dog before going back into the apartment to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher.

The fire was apparently started by some kind of an electrical problem with a lamp that had been left on. McKeddie was able to extinguish the flames before any serious damage occurred, and the family - with four kids ranging in age from 10 to 22 years old - was able to move back into the apartment that night.

Firefighters, who showed up on the scene just moments after the fire was extinguished, required the use of seven airpacks to enter the building and ensure the fire was completely extinguished.

"When the kids shouted 'Help me,' the policeman ran inside and grabbed the dog from the basement," Ayomagbemi said. "He's an angel - a godsend. Without him I don't know what we would have done.

"When I got home, there was no damage, and I was so happy. The dog was OK, my kids were fine, and I just want to say 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart.'"

The little pup was a new addition to the family, having just been brought into the home one week earlier.

Captain Jim Peever, public education officer for the Burnaby Fire Department, noted that the smoke inside the apartment was thick enough to require the fire crew who showed up moments later to use portions of seven airpacks to safely ensure the blaze was completely out.

McKeddie was treated with oxygen at the scene, and then taken to Burnaby Hospital for observation and released later that day.