Above: Marie Vyborny and her Shih Tzu, JoJo, following a fire at her home on Randy Road in Machesney Park, Illinois.
By Chris Anderson
North Park (IL) Fire Department Photographer
On July 29, JoJo the Shih Tzu alerted Larry and Marie Vyborny that their the Machesney Park (IL) home was on fire by barking at Larry as he slept. Larry then noticed JoJo sniffing the air, at which time the home’s smoke alarm went off. Larry proceeded to his living room, which was black with smoke, where he was able to power off the home’s air conditioning and furnace before being pulled out of the home by first responders as neighbors had called police and fire.
After being pulled from his home, Larry was unable to locate JoJo. The dog was later pulled from the home by North Park Fire Department firefighters Jason Street and Scott Kline, according to North Park Fire Deputy Chief John Cartwright. JoJo was given oxygen by paramedics, who also checked his vitals, before releasing him back to the Vyborny’s.
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