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Dog alerts homeowner to fire at Donegal home

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J.D. Martin hugs his dog, Zoey, who proved she is truly man’s best friend when she woke up her owner, alerting him to a fire even before the smoke detector went off early Thursday in Donegal Township.

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Firefighters from seven companies responded to a fire at this home in Donegal Township early Thursday morning. The fire heavily damaged two rooms and the roof of the home.

Zoey proved she is truly man’s best friend when she woke up her owner, alerting him to a fire even before the smoke detector went off early Thursday in his Donegal Township home.

J.D. Martin was still asleep in his home at 553 Route 40 when Zoey woke him up about 5:45 a.m.

“He said he could hear a crackling noise,” Claysville Assistant Fire Chief Marc Scott said of Martin. “He went down to the basement and closed the damper on the woodburning stove. He threw water on the fire to try and put it out. That’s when the smoke detector went off.”

Trooper Steve Thompson, state police fire marshal, told Scott the fire likely started in the woodburner. The damage was significant to the ranch-style brick home.

The frigid temperatures did not hamper firefighting efforts, Scott said.

“The cold wasn’t too bad,” Scott said. “We got the fire knocked down quickly without having to throw too much water on it. The snow slowed us down some, but everyone did an excellent job. We had no issues with the equipment, either.”

Firefighters cleared the scene about 9 a.m. Scott said Martin and Zoey will be staying with family and friends.

Assisting at the scene were firefighters from West Alexander, Taylorstown, Canton, North and South Franklin townships and Valley Grove, W.Va.

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