CPR Revives Fire Victim by a Whisker

Firefighter Robert Atkins saved a life Thursday morning--and braved a case of dog breath in the process.

When Atkins rescued an unconscious 6-month-old brown Labrador named Sammy from a home engulfed in flames, he did the only thing he could to revive the pooch: mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

“Atkins pulled off his mask and gave him two quick breaths just like we’re instructed to do in CPR,” said Robert Orozco,a fellow firefighter with the Fire Department at the Naval Construction Battalion Center. “I’ve never seen that done. . . . It’s a little different, a dog, as opposed to a human. But regardless, it’s a life.”

Paramedics then administered oxygen to Sammy. His owners, Joe and Rebecca Aubrey, both 21, later took him to an emergency pet clinic in Ventura for treatment of smoke inhalation.

No one was injured in the fire.

The couple’s Corvette Street home didn’t fare as well as their best friend in the 2:30 a.m. blaze. The townhome was gutted, and damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $102,000. An adjoining unit also received $5,000 in damage.

The cause of the blaze, which started in a couch and is regarded as suspicious, is under investigation, said Joe Luna, a spokesman with the Ventura County Fire Department.

Atkins, who is in the process of moving to the area from San Diego, was unavailable for comment. But Orozco said his colleague was “ecstatic” at saving a life--regardless of the species--from a bedroom filled with choking smoke.

“Even though the building was lost, we did some good there,” Orozco said. “I thought it was great.”

The Aubreys--and Sammy--are staying with friends in the area and could not be reached for comment.

But neighbor Lisa Christensen was impressed with the quick action of firefighters.

“When they carried the dog out we thought the dog was dead,” she said. “The job they do is really remarkable. . . . I had heard stories of other people having animals resuscitated so I wasn’t surprised that it could be done.”