Neighbor Helps Save Seminole County Sheriff's Deputy & Family From House Fire

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SEMINOLE COUNTY (CBSMiami) – A Seminole County Sheriff's deputy and her family have a quick-thinking neighbor and a pet to thank after they were rescued from their burning home overnight.

"We heard a loud boom from a house that is just a couple houses down from here.  We saw orange flames coming out," said Chip Dover.

Dover said he was met with flames raging out of control after hearing an explosion from his neighbor's home.  He soon saw someone trapped inside.

"There was some patio furniture there, so I grabbed a chair and smashed out one of the windows and there was a woman inside we could hear her," Dover explained.  "My son was calling for her to come to the window."

Dover said he grabbed the woman, who turned out to be a Seminole County deputy.

After being pulled to safety, the deputy screamed for her family.

"She had said that her husband and two children were still in the house," Dover said. "The responders knocked in the front door and soon afterwards the husband came out. And they went in the same window that she came out of and grabbed the little boy."

Once the father was rescued, firefighters said the family's dog led them to the two small children – a 1 year old and 4 year old.

The sheriff's office said while overcome with smoke, the deputy's chief concern was for her family.

"She is an absolute trooper," said Seminole County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Dennis Lemma. "She is a hero within our organization and her actions demonstrated that behavior."