A Family Dog Defies Debris to Survive Six Days after Home Explodes

The Washington Post / Clarence Williams

13:55 JST, October 22, 2024

The Prince William County rescuers moved cautiously Monday morning, slowly removing sheetrock, lumber and roof shingles from the wreckage of what six days ago had been a home in the Haymarket, Virginia, area.

From under the rubble, a constant stream of noise confirmed that a live rescue was their purpose.

“Once we heard the barking, and we knew she was alive,” said Gavin Morrison, a firefighter with the Prince William County fire department. “The way she was barking at us and her owners, she was just a scared dog.”

Six days after a gas explosion toppled the home, residents and neighbors led firefighters from Truck 504 in Gainesville to free Brandy, a pit bull mix who somehow survived under a pile of what appeared to be an interior wall, fire officials said.

“She was lucky that she was in a space that was tenable and she was able to survive for six days without food or water,” said Lt. Mark Waldrop, who created a plan to safely extricate the dog.

The explosion happened Tuesday, more than an hour after firefighters responded to the 5900 block of Colby Hunt Court for an outdoor gas leak about 4:25 p.m., officials said. Nearby homes were evacuated before the explosion, and no human injuries were reported.

Investigators said a private contractor ruptured the gas line while replacing a water line to the home.

Nearly a week later, rescuers arrived at the remains of the structure where the dog had been barking. The crew used “a simple floor jack” and shored up debris as it created an escape tunnel, Waldrop said.

The technical rescue was straightforward, but persuading a frightened pet to come out after nearly a week proved daunting, officials said. Rescuers carefully climbed atop the pile from behind the dog in an attempt to drive her toward her owners, but the dog stayed put.

Dog treats and deli ham, courtesy of neighbors, got the job done, Morrison said. The escape brought elation and emotion from relieved homeowners.

“There were definitely some tears shed,” Morrison said.

Waldrop said the crew executed the plan perfectly, which was important considering how much the residents had endured.

“It’s a great feeling to get the dog back to their owner, especially after they lost pretty much everything,” Waldrop said.