HOLLY (WWJ) - A Holly homeowner is hospitalized after he and his dog had to be rescued by fire crews when his home caught fire over the weekend during an attempt to thaw out frozen water pipes, authorities said.
According to the Village of Holly Fire Department, crews were called out to the scene of a residential fire at the Holly Mobile Home Park around 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan, 14, about 24 miles northwest of Auburn Hills.
Holly police were the first on scene with officers preforming CPR on an unconscious man, identified as the homeowner, when fire crews arrived at the home.
As one officer continued life-saving measures, another officer went inside and rescued the man's dog.
Holly firefighters and paramedics took over CPR before receiving help from North Oakland County Fire Authority (NOCFA) crews. The man was rushed to Ascension Genesys Hospital where he was last listed in stable condition.
As crews attended to the homeowner, firefighters were able to quickly extinguished the fire, which had ignited under the mobile home.
As the flames were out, investigators say the fire likely began as an attempt to thaw the water pipes underneath the home, "which occurred as a result of the homeowner experiencing a medical emergency."
"This incident serves as a reminder to always prioritize fire safety when thawing water pipes - never use a torch or open flame for this purpose," the fire department warned in a social media post.
Fire crews thanked Holly PD, NOCFA and the Fenton Fire Department for their help at the scene.