A sleeping homeowner in Racine was alerted to a fire by his dog early Wednesday morning.
The man safely evacuated into the freezing cold, but he suffered smoke inhalation and some burns in the process and was taken to St. Mary's Regional Burn Center. A condition report wasn't immediately available.
The dog--said to be a Lab--is ok. He spent some time in a fire truck before being taken to the humane society.
According to Racine Fire Dept. Capt. Craig Ford, extra crews responded to the alarm at 1122 Saxony Drive on the city's far north side at about 1:30 Wednesday morning.
A fire started in the living room and spread to the attic. The small ranch sustained about $95,000 in smoke and water damage.
The cause hasn't been determined.
At the time of the fire, the temperature was -16 with a wind chill of -43.
Ford says because of the weather extra firefighters and trucks are automatically being dispatched to fire calls.
While firefighters are not believed to have had any problems in this fire accessing the nearest hydrant in the neighhborhood, Ford reiterated the department's request for property owners to clear snow from the hydrants they host.
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