Dog rescued by firefighters from New Jersey blaze that destroyed apartment house

As flames ripped through his apartment building, Melvin Rodriguez was on his knees in the middle of Main Street in Hackensack, N.J. Kneeling behind large hoses and yellow police tape, he prayed and cried, unsure of the fate of his black French Bulldog, Sebastian.

Rodriguez was surrounded by his son, Damon, 14, and friends and relatives who offered hugs as the flames grew and the smoke turned acrid and black.

But their anxiety turned to tears of joy as a firefighter wearing an air mask emerged from the doorway of the burning building with the pudgy puppy tucked safely under his right arm.

The family rushed down the block, and another firefighter handed the wet, soot-covered dog to Rodriguez, who again fell to his knees and hugged the frightened dog along with his son.

Women with curlers in their hair, watching from a nearby beauty salon, broke into applause.

Sebastian just wagged his tiny tail and licked his owners.

Two firefighters were injured and 34 residents of 12 apartments were left homeless by the blaze, which started in a ground-floor restaurant. (David Handschuh/Yahoo News)


Photographs by David Handschuh/Yahoo News

Find more news related pictures on our photo galleries page and follow us on Tumblr.