MESA COUNTY, Colo. — Deputies in Mesa County rescued 14 dogs from a burning camper on Tuesday afternoon.
At 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, personnel with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office and Clifton Fire Department responded to a report of a camper trailer on fire near 32nd Road and Interstate 70 Business Loop.
When deputies arrived in the parking lot of Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply and Denny's, they saw white smoke coming from the top of the camper and could hear whining dogs inside. The camper was attached to an older model passenger van.
Deputies were seen on body camera footage breaking a window and, one by one, removing 14 dogs from the trailer.
Responding firefighters provided oxygen to three of the dogs, which were not initially responsive due to smoke inhalation. After about 20 minutes, they all were able to walk around. One pit bull had second-degree burns.
One of the dogs that escaped the trailed and was unharmed was struck by a vehicle and died, the sheriff's office said.
One deputy was burned on his hand and had minor scratches, but nobody else was injured, the sheriff's office said. He was evaluated at the scene.
The sheriff's office thanked Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, which provided kennels for the dogs while firefighters extinguished the flames.
The fire likely started because of the camper's propane heater, the sheriff's office said.
The sheriff's office did not release any information on the dogs' owner and did it's not yet clear if any charges will be filed.
No other details were available.