A woman and her dog were rescued from a fire at a Central Islip home on Saturday.
Firefighters said when a fire broke out at 3 Rossmore Ave. around 3:20 p.m., 84-year-old homeowner Mary Doxsee was inside on the first floor, unaware she was in danger.
“She was sitting down, she was watching TV with her pet. She didn't even realize her home was involved in a fire at all,” said Chief of the Central Islip Fire Department Michael Zaleski.
A passerby noticed smoke coming from the roof of the house and called 911. Police and firefighters responded within minutes.
News 12 Long Island was told while two police officers helped the woman and her dog out of the house, firefighters put out the fire.
“As I entered towards the back of the house, I actually pulled down the attic stairs and that's where I saw some of the smoke pushing out and it seemed like there was an active fire in the attic,” said First Assistant Chief Vinny Plotino.
Firefighters said Doxsee and her dog were not injured and are staying with family.
"The fire department was wonderful, the police," said Darlene Hande as fought back tears as she spoke about her mother's close call. "It was crazy."
"She's a little confused, so she doesn't know exactly what happened," Hande said
She added that her mother has dementia and can't talk about what happened, but she's alive thanks to the quick response of Suffolk's finest and bravest. Hande said she can't thank them enough.
"Everybody was amazing," Hande said.
Firefighters said the fire likely started in the attic.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.