Dog Credited With Saving Family As Fire Swept Through Home

September 12, 2020

Derek Walker, his wife Maria and their two children, ages 12 and 9, were asleep when their dog, Ralph, began to bark around 2:30 am.

dog bark saves family from fire
Ralph / Credit: Al.com

"He was in his kennel inside the house and we heard him barking," Walker told Al.com. "He usually doesn't make a sound at night. And it was a different kind of bark."

Walker got up to investigate and heard noise coming from the kitchen. As he headed that way, he saw flames outside the kitchen window.

"I just started screaming 'fire' to get everybody up," he said. "My wife got up and she got our daughter and got her out."

Their son's bedroom is on the lowest level of the split-level home. Maria went down next to get their son.

"She said his room was full of smoke. He was still asleep," Walker said. "The fire was right outside his wall. He wasn't awake because he sleeps covered with is blanket."

They were able to get him outside as well as the dog.

dog bark saves family from fire
Credit: Al.com

Walker said the smoke alarms didn't sound until the house was filled with smoke.

"There was so much smoke I don't know if we would have made it out," he said.

The family rents the home in Birmingham, AL, which appears to be a total loss. Most of their belongings perished inside.

"Without Ralph, I don't think we would have made it," Walker said. "I don't think my son would have made it."

Authorities believe the fire started on the grill and quickly spread to the home.


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoCouple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It

feel good storiesOhio Man Makes Waves With His Fully Functioning Hot Dog Boat

feel good storiesThese Are The Movie Scenes People Say Are Absolutely Flawless

feel good storiesWhy Hope Is The Key To A Meaningful Life, Backed By New Research

feel good storiesJudge Waives Parking Fines So Dad Can Keep Supporting Son’s Space Dreams

feel good storiesHungry Elephant Casually Walks Into Grocery Store For Snacks In Thailand

feel good videoWoman Tries To Help Bird, Then This Happened... And We Can't Stop Laughing

feel good videoArtist Creates Mesmerizing Optical Illusion Using Just A Marker And A Spinning Wheel

feel good videoConcerned Momma Moose Wanders Into Alaska Firehouse

feel good videoUPS Driver Joins Teenagers On Graduation Slip ’N Slide

feel good videoHero Dog Named RAMBO Scares Off Masked Robbers To Save Woman

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me