Photo: North Westside Fire

North Westside fire crews fought to save three dogs trapped in a burning house on Sunday.

Firefighters tackled the fully-involved house blaze on Lester Road after a call came in around 6:30 a.m. yesterday.

“The first crew to arrive saw flames shooting out of the back of the house. They attacked the fire on the exterior,” said North Westside Fire Chief Jason Satterthwaite.

But when the two residents told arriving crews the family's pets were inside the house, the firefighters switched their tactics, concentrating on the interior of the house in an effort to save the animals.

“The search team was able to find all three dogs and bring them out,” Satterthwaite said. “There were two pugs and a mastiff.”

Two of the dogs were not breathing.

“We attempted CPR on the two but were not able to revive them.”

However, there were signs of life from one of the pugs.

“First responders actually gave her oxygen and we got her to a vet in West Kelowna,” Satterthwaite said. “She is doing quite well.”

The 15 firefighters were able to save the structure but it suffered serious damage and will likely be a write off, Satterthwaite said.

The fire chief praised his crews for their heroism in the face of a dangerous fire.