COUPLE’S PUPPIES PERISH IN DALBY FIRE

A DALBY couple is devastated after a catastrophic fire ripped through their home Saturday night, killing their seven puppies.

Andrew Riedel and his partner Ashley Gobbert were woken by the sound of their fire alarms in the early hours of the morning, with Mr Riedel rushing outside to investigate.

“Andrew just ran downstairs and when I woke up I just saw smoke everywhere,” Ms Gobbert said.

“Our first thoughts were to just grab the pets and get out.”

Ms Gobbert said she rushed down the stairs as the fire engulfed their garage, only metres away from their bedroom.

“I couldn’t see a thing, there was that much smoke,” she said.

“I started to get light-headed, and thought I was going to faint, it was horrendous.”

Mr Riedel heroically attempted to rescue their seven two-week-old husky puppies who were sleeping in the garage with their mother when the fire started.

Unfortunately it was too late, with all seven puppies dying in the inferno.

The puppies’ mother narrowly escaped, with Ms Gobbert saying her coat had been scorched by burning plastic.

Mr Riedel was able to rescue their cat Charlie who was hiding inside, after placing a towel on his face to protect from smoke inhalation.

Their three huskies, Max, North and Narla survived the blaze, as fire crews battled the house fire.

Fire crews, paramedics and police descended on the Kylie Street home about 2.20am Sunday.

A Queensland Fire communications spokeswoman said crews isolated power once they arrived, and subdued the blaze to the ceiling.

The spokeswoman said fireys entered the home with breathing apparatuses and managed the hot spots, before making the scene safe.

The young couple are now left to pick up the pieces of their scorched home, which they only purchased in June.

“Now we have to live in emergency accommodation,” Ms Gobbert said.