MELBOURNE, Fla. – A police officer who got burned saving his dog when their house caught on fire is almost ready to go back to work.
Just two weeks ago, Melbourne officer Anthony Ciraco escaped with his life and has since been recovering, in a big way financially, too, because of a GoFundMe his mentor with the police department started for him.
Thursday, Ciraco returned to what was left of his home and showed News 6 reporter James Sparvero the damage.
“Somehow the Christmas tree made it,” Ciraco said entering the rear sliding door.
The tree was about the only thing that wasn’t completely burned.
Ciraco said the fire started when he fell asleep while he was cooking breakfast.
“I put some oil on the stove, and I grabbed my dog some treats and I sat down with him right here,” the officer recalled. “Next thing I know, I heard crackling like a fireplace, and it was just a red glow and just smoke pouring over.”
Ciraco said his dog, Buddy, ran towards his bedroom so he had to rescue the 14-year-old pup through smoke so thick he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face.
“I just bundled him up and ran through it,” he said about escaping.
Ciraco called Buddy his shadow and his sidekick.
“I wasn’t leaving without him,” the officer said.
Once back outside the house during his interview Thursday, Ciraco said seeing all that he’s lost makes him emotional.
“It’s tough to see. It really is,” he said about lost possessions he had since he was a child.
Ciraco then talked about his plan to return to work.
“I wish I could already be back, but I plan on being back in less than a week,” he said.
And of the more than 200 people who have helped him raise more than $25,000 towards his recovery, Ciraco called their generosity, ‘humbling.’
“It’s what has gotten me through the worst moment of my life,” he said. “Can’t thank everybody enough. I can’t put it into words.”
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