A family has its pet dachshund to thank for alerting them to a fire in their home early Monday morning.
PITMAN -- A family has its pet dachshund to thank for alerting them to a fire in their home early Monday morning.
The fire, which was confined to the exterior of a triplex on Evergreen Avenue, is considered suspicious, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.
Rich and Darla Gilliam were rescued from a second-floor bedroom by Pitman Fire Department.
The family's pet dachshund, Pickles, began barking when smoke started filling the home around 1:30 a.m.
"That's when my father woke up and heard the smoke alarm," said daughter Dawn Gilliam, who lives nearby. Her parents couldn't get out of the room because of the smoke. Both are on oxygen, Gilliam explained.
Rich called 911.
One firefighter was able to enter the home and get to the bedroom, according to Rich, where he found the couple leaning out of the window trying to get fresh air. Using ladders, firefighters were able to remove the husband and wife through the window. They also rescued the couple's other daughter, Dana, who lives in the home.
None of the occupants were injured.
The fire began on the home's front porch, possibly in a chair under a window, Rich Gilliam said. A small area near the front door is scorched, but the home appears to have suffered no other physical damage.
The county prosecutor's office and the county fire marshal's office are handling the investigation.
Because of smoke damage, the family expects cleanup of the home will take two to three months.
Rich, 75, and Darla, 68, have been married 50 years and have lived in the Evergreen Avenue home for 38 years, they said. They are sleeping in a camper on their property for the time being.
"We're just happy to be alive," Rich said, as he stood outside holding Pickles and surveying the damage. "Thank heavens for the dog and smoke detectors."
Photographer Tim Hawk contributed to this report.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.