'I thought I was going to die'
Dog's actions may have helped save man from burning third-floor apt.
Michael Donaldson awoke early Monday and felt his dog, Tristan, gnawing on his hand.
The pet often got his attention that way, but not at 1 a.m.
Though still groggy from being awakened, Donaldson quickly understood; a smoke alarm was bleating as smoke filled his North Charleston apartment.
Brad Nettles
The Post and Courier
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Donaldson talks Monday about the blaze he escaped from at the Cedar Grove Apartments near Dorchester Road.
Soon, he found himself looking from a third-story window, wondering if he should jump. How would he save his dog?
"The flames were pretty much licking the window right next to me," the 32-year-old recalled several hours later. "I was so scared sitting up there. I thought I was going to die."
The fire at the Cedar Grove Apartments destroyed Donaldson's apartment and another next door occupied by a couple.
The Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross was helping 11 people who had been displaced from seven units in building No. 4, said Nancy Olson, the chapter's development associate.
North Charleston fire investigators, meanwhile, were looking into the cause of the fire and its point of origin.
Firefighters were dispatched at 1:21 a.m. and spent 20 to 30 minutes bringing the flames under control, Battalion Chief Eric Phillips said. During their efforts, one firefighter was shocked by some equipment; he left Summerville Medical Center after receiving treatment.
An Air Force technical sergeant, Donaldson arrived in the Lowcountry in June after being assigned to Charleston Air Force Base. The move meant leaving his friends and colleagues back at Hurlburt Field in Florida, so he got a medium-size Japanese hunting dog called a Kai Ken as a companion.
By waking him up Monday, his 8-month-old friend might have saved his life.
In the smoke-filled apartment, Donaldson's first move was to try to open his bedroom door.
"It was like a wall of smoke," he said.
He retreated, then tried the window. The glass was too thick to break easily. Frantically, he opened it and broke out the screen.
"I started yelling, 'Fire, fire!' "
People gathered below and someone called 911.
Donaldson waited minutes without hearing sirens. A patio door just feet away from him burst open. He could feel intense heat on his left arm. Inside, Tristan dug his claws into the carpet in terror.
A woman below told him to throw the dog to safety. Donaldson thought he might have to jump, too, so he did.
Tristan scratched him as he pulled him from the floor. He heaved him out the window, but the woman below was unable to catch him.
About four minutes passed, Donaldson estimated, before firefighters arrived.
Engine 11 and Engine 12 were the first at the scene. The firefighters told him not to jump, that they would reach him. Capt. Gerald Kennedy and Firefighter Christopher Ward scaled an extension ladder and brought him down.
Donaldson was safe, with only slight injuries. As he descended the ladder, the firefighters told him not to look, but it was too late.
"I saw my dog on the ground," he said. "That was really hard for me."
Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 22 comment(s)
Posted by UrGatorbait on January 6, 2009 at 5:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gotta love mans best friend.
Posted by cubfan on January 6, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm so glad the man got out...but so heart-breaking about Tristan. Good dog, RIP.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on January 6, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is heartbreaking..RIP Tristan...you truly were his best friend.
Posted by bookworm on January 6, 2009 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is one of the saddest stories I've ever read. :( Poor Tristan - he was truly a hero. I can hardly stand it. Broken heart...
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 6, 2009 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bulldog1 = RW?
hmmm...
A distinct possibility.
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 6, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sgt. Donaldson must be heartbroken over his decision regarding Tristan. His dog Tristan was indicative of the love a dog has for its owner.
But I can certainly understand his fear and desperation at that time. He didn't want to see the dog die in the fire and he did what he hoped was the best thing.
I hope he forgives himself and in time he will be able to welcome another pet/family member into his home.
What a sad story.
Posted by kma71 on January 6, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dang Bulldog, it's awfully early for someone to show as much hatred as you do. Do you need a hug?!!
Posted by kma71 on January 6, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to Bulldog's comments?
Posted by sbs920 on January 6, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DawgGonnit!
Posted by ForPnC on January 6, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Man... this story damn near ripped my heart out.
Posted by yird on January 6, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have no idea how I would react if in the identical situation he was facing but I do know it would be near impossible for me to drop my dog three floors unless my ass was actually on fire.
Posted by Ralph on January 6, 2009 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad story about the dog, but great job North Charleston Fire Department. Way to go guys!
Posted by randk on January 6, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would have done *ANYTHING* and so would my husband to save our 100 lb. yellow lab. Even if it meant CARRYING her on my back down the ladder. I understand that the flames were "licking" at their heels, but I still woulda tried. I might have died trying, but I love my dog that much. It is tragic, but he seemed not too sad during the interview at noon today on channel five. I would've been so upset over the loss of my beloved pet, that I wouldn't have been doing interviews. IMHO
Posted by TSD on January 6, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sgt Donaldson is my brother and even though we're sad about Tristan, we're grateful that Mike is alive when this could have very well within seconds been a different story. I firmly believe that Tristan is up in Heaven getting his reward for being a good dog.
Posted by TSD on January 6, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Randk - How dare you assume anything about my brother. He's devestated over the loss of his dog. He thought he was going to die, and decided to try and save his dog before himself.
Before you sit there and armchair quarterback what my brother was feeling and what his emotions in a 30 second news story were try and remember what you think you are sure you would do and what you really would do in a situation like this are two separate things and this story shows NOTHING about what my brother is going through right now.
Posted by Pillsbury on January 6, 2009 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Radnk, that is the coldest thing I have ever read on any forum---anywhere. Poor man lost his dog reacting in a situation which I would probably imagine you've never had to encounter.
Posted by randk on January 6, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
okay, okay ~ I didn't mean to come across cold. You're right ~ I don't know how I or anyone would or should react in any given situation. I'm sorry if I offended him or his family. I think that the interview I saw today on tv portrayed him as a little callous when he said, the dog was "a good investment." A poor choice of words, at best. Perhaps I go a little overboard as a fierce animal lover, I just love my pets as my children, and would have treated them as such, in that situation. At least I think I would've. But you're right, those of you who responded to my comment. I shouldn't have made that assumption about someone I don't know. Forgive me. I am truly sorry for his loss.
Posted by Pillsbury on January 6, 2009 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
^ I didn't see him on television so he might have come off a little cold. Didn't mean to criticize you.
Posted by pete1957 on January 6, 2009 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I met Sgt. Donaldson this evening and what a fine young man. He had nothing but praise for the responding North Charleston Fire Department and told me the story how the firefighters literally saved his life and how grateful he was for such a quick response. As a former fire chief and now living in North Charleston, I must say this department is top notch and I hope the governing entity will keep it properly funded so the excellent service to the city will continue as proven by Sgt. Donaldson experience.
Pete Duran
Fire Chief, retired
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on January 6, 2009 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen--you never know what you'll do under duress. I'd like to think I'd carry my Jack Russell down in my teeth if I had to, but who knows? This gentleman did all he could to save his dog. Some people would have scrambled out and left Tristan to his fiery fate. RIP, good boy.
Posted by JeffD on January 7, 2009 at 1:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
randk,
I don't know what interview you saw Mr. Donaldson on, but the one I saw on 5 news he was in tears when he talked about Tristan dieing and made no mention of "good investment". I'm an animal lover myself and a dog trainer so I know for a fact that you wouldn't carry a frightened dog down a ladder. Dogs by nature are extremely frightened of fire. Mr. Donaldson probably has claw marks on his body from Tristan trying to get away and go into hiding. He would have had to hold onto a clawing and squirming dog for who knows how long it was until the fire department showed up and then carry the frightened still clawing animal down a 70 foot ladder.
You should use some tact next time you decide to be critical of the actions of another, especially when you don't know yourself how you would react. I wasn't there but I saw pictures of the fire blazing and I can tell you I probably would have done the same thing if someone told me they would catch him like they did to him, at least then I would know he had a chance to survive that aweful fire.
Posted by Hott_Temper on January 8, 2009 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry for his loss, and I would have done the same thing. What I want to know, is why the woman told him to toss the dog over and then she didn't catch him.. What the hell was she or the crowd that had gathered doing, that they didn't see him coming right at them? I would be mad with her and everyone that was shouting to toss him out the window, and would make them pay for the loss that they could have prevented..