Dog Helps Pair Escape From Fire

A deaf mother and her young daughter escaped an apartment fire Wednesday afternoon with the help of their dog.

Fire officials say the mother had put her 3-year-old to sleep in an upstairs bedroom before taking a nap on a couch downstairs.

She was awakened by the dog - a year-old Labrador and husky mix - which was tugging at her shirt and barking.

Fire officials say the child somehow had gotten downstairs and smoke was pouring out of her room. They believe the dog had warned the girl or led her out of danger.

The mother took the girl, the dog and their cat to a neighbor’s house after securing the upstairs bedroom to make sure the fire didn’t spread.

Fire officials say both the mother and child were unhurt.

Cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage estimates were not yet available.