LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Early Sunday morning, a Nye County deputy and his K9 escaped a fire, and in the hours following, the community has delivered overwhelming support for the family, now cleaning up the damage.
On Sunday around 1:30 a.m., Nye County Deputy Chris Smith woke up to his garage engulfed in flames and his K9, Zeus, trapped in his kennel nearby.
“He wound up having to pick up one side of the chain-link kennel panels in order to get his dog out,” said Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill.
And then he had to throw Zeus over a fence to get him out of the yard and away from the fire.
“He’s a dog, it’s fire, he doesn’t know what’s going on, and he was freaking out. I’m sure Deputy Smith was freaking out too. Not only does he have to try to get his dog to a safe place, he had to try to protect his home, his wife, his children, his property.”
K9 Zeus had smoke inhalation and is expected to recover.
But his shed and kennel, as well as Deputy Smith’s garage with personal vehicles inside, were a total loss.
Sheriff McGill says the community quickly rallied in support of Deputy Smith and his family.
Just hours after the sheriff’s office posted on social media asking for help, the need was already filled.
“We have had a tremendous response to our Facebook post. A fencing company out here offered to assist; somebody has offered to donate a shed to Deputy Smith.”
The fire started in the garage. The cause is still under investigation.
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