Barking Dog, Smoke Alarm Save Family From Burning Beltsville Home

BELTSVILLE, Md. (WUSA) - A barking family dog and a smoke alarm are credited with saving a Prince George's County family from its burning home Tuesday.

The fire began just before 6 a.m. along Maples Avenue near Elizabeth Street, according to Prince George's County Fire & Rescue spokesman Mark Brady. He told 9NEWS NOW the dog and alarm alerted the family to the fire. Three adults and five children inside were able to make it out safely and unhurt.

Brady said it took 30 firefighters about 20 minutes to get the fire under control. When firefighters arrived, flames were seen from both floors and through the roof. Aerial footage from SKY 9 showed smoke pouring out of the house for some time after firefighters gained the upper hand.