Sheboygan house fire: Dog wakes family, helps them escape safely -- home is a total loss

SHEBOYGAN -- A Sheboygan family woke up in Christmas Eve morning to find their home filled with smoke and flames. Their dog is being hailed a hero for waking the family up -- and getting them out of the house safely. The community is now rallying around them as they head into Christmas without a place to live.

Fire crews responded to the scene on Woodland Road in the Town of Sheboygan on Thursday morning, December 24th.

Crews received a call just before 5:00 a.m. regarding an attached garage fire. When the Sheboygan Fire Department arrived on scene, the fire had spread to the home.

Inside that home, a family, including two young children, slept.

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Authorities tell FOX6 News a dog woke the family up before the smoke detectors went off -- and they were all able to exit safely.

"They were all sleeping. The dog woke them

"I heard a bunch of popping and cracking," Dave Gosse said.

It was the lights and sirens from the fire truck that led Gosse to run to his window early Thursday morning.

"I pulled the blinds back and you could see the house across the street was totally engulfed in flames," Gosse said. "It was just an ugly sight."

It was especially hard to see for Gosse. He and his wife built the house and lived in it for more than 25 years. They sold the house three years ago.

Dave Gosse

"We`ve got a lot of stories in that house also. It's just a sad thing to see on Christmas," Gosse said.

Three neighboring fire departments were called in to assist the Town of Sheboygan Fire Department. One firefighter suffered a minor injury to his knee.

The house is a total loss. Officials did not yet have an estimate on the damage.

"When you think of all the preparation they must have gone into over the last couple of months, getting ready for (Christmas), and then all of a sudden that`s gone," Patty Flowers with the American Red Cross said.

Red Cross volunteers were on scene to try to help the family in any way they can.

"This is really devastating for someone to go through -- but they`ve got to be shown they can get through this," Flowers said.

"Any day is bad -- but Christmas is -- just, I can't imagine. It's got to be terrible. I feel so sorry for them. We're trying to do what we can," Gosse said.

Neighbors not only helped the family with a place to stay -- but some went out right away to buy them some of the things they need.

We're told fire officials also chipped in for Christmas gifts for the two young children.

If you'd like to make a donation to help this family, an account has been established at GoFundMe.com. CLICK HERE to make a donation.