Murray family, dogs escape house fire

Four people, including a mother and two small children — and their three pets — escaped a fire that heavily damaged a Murray home Thursday morning.

Murray Fire Department spokesman Russ Groves says he and another city employee were driving near Poplar and E. Vine Street (about 4800 South and State Street) just before 9 a.m. when they spotted smoke pouring from a house.

"We called it in and our guys were there in no time," Groves said. "The mother said she was asleep with her 2-week-old baby girl when she awoke to see flames rising from near the foot of her bed. She grabbed the baby, her 3-year-old son and told her husband, and they got out."

Meanwhile, the woman's husband also staying in the home had rushed back inside the burning house to rescue three small dogs he thought were still inside. He came back out empty-handed, but not before suffering minor facial burns and smoke inhalation.

The would-be canine rescuer was taken to Intermountain Medical Center for treatment. Meanwhile, two of the dogs were found to have fled to safety outside, and firefighters discovered the third dog inside the house, hiding under a crib and unharmed.

The home sustained an estimated $70,000 in damage. The family will stay with relatives, Groves said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

remims@sltrib.com