Christmas Day fire

A Burlington man says he’s lucky to be alive after a fire ripped through his house early Christmas morning.

Jim lowes was pulled from the bedroom window by Halton police officers. He says if they hadn’t done that, he’s certain he’d be dead right now.

Lowes was fast asleep when his dog Bob started jumping up and down on the bed. “Probably close to 4am I thought I heard the alarm but thought I was dreaming and then the dog jumped onto my bed. I couldn’t see him, the whole area was covered in smoke.” Lowes says.

Jim pushed open the bedroom window and got Bob out safely and then tried to look for Charlie, his 13 year old Golden Retriever.

As Jim tried to catch his breath at the window, that’s when Halton Police Officers grabbed him and pulled him out.

Jim Lowes wrote to Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring, asking that the officers who saved him be given an award for their heroics.

Rick Goldring says, “We’ve been in touch with the leadership of the Halton Police Service, they’re looking into some internal recognition for the work that they did.”

Burlington Fire officials say the blaze started in the kitchen and caused roughly $100,000 damage.

Losing Charlie has been devastating for Jim but his relationship with Bob has never been stronger.

Leaving a pot unattended on a stove is the number one cause of fires in Burlington. Fire investigators found garlic bread still in the toaster after the fire and are confident that started the blaze.