Pit bull mix Rocco is usually quiet, but the night of January 24 was different. His owner and the other residents at New Legacy Apartments in Syracuse, New York, could hear Rocco’s bark getting increasingly louder.
Rocco’s owner went to see what all the fuss was about when she heard several pops in the ceiling and realized something was seriously wrong. As she and Rocco fled her apartment, she saw debris flying around. Once outside, she saw parts of the building go up in flames, including the stairs the two took to exit.
When firefighters arrived, the entire apartment building was ablaze, and the roof collapsed. In total, 24 apartments were damaged or destroyed, and one person was injured.
Rocco and his owner made it to a temporary shelter set up by the American Red Cross.
In the meantime, Rocco is being hailed as a “hero dog” for sounding the alarm.
