A stunning video, now ⱱігаɩ, of Charlie’s death-defying leap of faith is setting the internet alight as dog lovers rejoice at the incredible “self-rescue.”
Hot dog! Charlie jumped from a two-story home to escape a raging inferno in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
“Oh my God, these poor people, I hope they get the dogs out,” a shocked cameraman, Justin Steinmetz, 40, can be heard gasping as he gasps for air in the original, unedited 15-minute clip. The Fleetwood resident came upon the blaze while driving through town early Wednesday morning.
Another angle of Charlie’s leap of faith.
Hot dog! Charlie jumped from a two-story home to escape a raging inferno in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
“I was the first on the scene,” said the good Samaritan, who knocked on doors to alert neighbors of the fast-moving disaster, as he did not have his phone at the time. They subsequently called 911, and firefighters quickly responded to the scene.
“Shortly before 08:00 a.m. on April 27, the department along with the Blandon and Walnuttown fire companies received the initial alarm for a structure fire in the borough,” the Fleetwood Fire Company reported on its official Facebook page.
That’s when Steinmetz witnessed the incredible leap of the pup, an apparent Rottweiler-Pittie mix.
“I was the first on the scene,” Steinmetz said.
Another angle of Charlie’s leap of faith.
The action-packed footage begins with another dog, who had just escaped the scorching level of the burning house, running frantically across the front yard. The animal appears distressed as his friend, named Charlie, is still trapped inside the burning structure.
“Oh, hey pup, come here buddy,” Steinmetz can be heard saying softly as the dog cries. “Come here, come here. I know, your house is on fire.”
The footage then cuts to the pup in question, who is sitting in an open second-story window whimpering pitifully as smoke envelops him. Meanwhile, brave neighbors and rescuers downstairs can be seen urging the imperiled pup to jump to safety.
“I was the first one on the scene,” Steinmetz said.
Charlie howls in agony, and the flames begin to lick his rear end.
“Come on, Charlie!” the rescuers shouted, at first to no avail.
Charlie howls in agony, and the flames begin to lick his rear end.
Charlie howls in agony, and the flames begin to burn his rear end.
At seemingly the last second, Charlie makes a flying leap into the arms of a rescuer below, causing the rescuers to erupt in cheers.
At seemingly the last second, Charlie makes a flying leap into the arms of a rescuer below.
“Good boy,” they gushed as they pet the brave dog, whose back appears to be severely burned by the flames. Later in the clip, relieved Samaritans spray the “hot dog” with water as firefighters extinguish the blaze. Thankfully, Charlie appeared to be okay after the harrowing encounter, though the extent of his injuries is still unclear, local news outlet Mercury reported.
“The dog jumped out the window!” exclaimed witness Justin Steinmetz.
At seemingly the last second, Charlie makes a flying leap into the arms of a rescuer below.
“The dog jumped out the window!” exclaimed witness Justin Steinmetz.
The clip concludes with one of the home’s occupants, 18-year-old Katie Stump, holding a lucky cat named Monkey, who was “found unharmed on a іпfeгіoг level,” according to Fleetwood firefighters. Unfortunately, another of Stump’s cats is still missing.
“The dog jumped out the window!” exclaimed witness Justin Steinmetz.
Fortunately, despite being initially “hampered” by high winds, firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. “The fire was contained within 30 minutes while Fleetwood remained on scene until 11:30,” Fleetwood Fire Company reported. “PSP Fire Marshal was on scene and the structure was delivered to the homeowners shortly after.”
They added, “Great teamwork and thanks to all the departments that responded and assisted.”
