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Dog, Older Brother Help Rescue Family From Fire

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Dog, Older Brother Help Rescue Family From Fire

CORAOPOLIS (KDKA) ― A teen is in the hospital today after a fire swept through his family's home early this morning.

Now a family pet and the teen's older brother are being credited with helping the family escape the blaze.

Officials say the fire started around 6:15 a.m. at a home along State Avenue and Vine Street in Coraopolis.

The Hetzer family said they were asleep when Chunk, the family's Rottweiler, started barking, which alerted the family to the fire.

Authorities say 45-year-old Lou Hetzer, Jr., his wife Susan, his son Lewis, 18, and another woman staying with the family managed to get out of the burning home.

The family says Hetzer's son, Lewis, was outside when he heard his younger brother, Mikey, 17, calling for help inside. Officials say Lewis broke the glass on the front door, went back inside and got his brother to safety.

Mikey Hetzer suffered second degree burns over 30 percent of his body, officials say. He is being treated at a local hospital.

Meanwhile, Lou Hetzer, Jr. and his older son both reportedly suffered some minor burns. Officials say the women who escaped were not injured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the family says they are just happy that everyone made it out alive.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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