Firefighters rescue dog that survived in vacant church fire

Ferndale firefighters battled a suspicious fire at a vacant church in Royal Oak Township only to find an unknown female dog inside that managed to survive the blaze.

Firefighters, unaware of the dog’s name, quickly named her on the spot: Miracle.

Neighbors called 911 about the fire at 20766 Garden Lane shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday. There were flames to the ceiling and heavy smoke when firefighters arrived at the church.

“We quickly extinguished the fire,” said Ferndale Fire Chief Teresa Robinson. “After the fire was under control we went inside and found a dog in the back of the church by the altar area.”

The dog was scared and she was brought outside.

Robinson approached the animal, which suffered some burns before firefighters rescued her.

“She was very sweet,” Robinson said. “I walked toward her and she ran to me and laid at my feet. She was very lovable and she was giving me kisses. She’s going to make it.”

The fire chief walked with the dog on a makeshift harness made of strapping from some rescue equipment.

“During the fire she had found herself a pocket below the fire to hide in,” Robinson said.

Miracle was taken to the Royal Oak Animal Shelter and then to an emergency veterinarian clinic on John R in Madison Heights.

She had minor burns on her chest, face and rear area, Robinson said.

“They were borderline first- or second-degree burns,” she said.

The dog is expected to make a full recovery and will be put up for adoption at the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center, in hopes she’ll get a chance to find her forever home, Robinson said.

Miracle’s survival stands in contrast to the possibly darker origins of the suspicious fire, which are under investigation.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the church, which has been vacant for at least two years.

Michigan State Police investigated a suspicious fire at the same vacant church in December 2019, according to WXYZ.