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Twin Cities man recovering after saving girlfriend, losing service dog in house fire
Summary
A Little Canada house fire on March 25 sent Leo Martinez to the hospital with severe burns after he rescued his girlfriend; his service dog Duke died in the blaze.
Content
A house fire in Little Canada on March 25 sent a man to the hospital and killed his service dog. Leo Martinez was grilling when a propane tank ignited on his deck, and he discovered flames after his dog alerted him. He got his girlfriend out of the house but could not reach his dog, Duke, as the fire spread. Martinez is being treated at Regions Hospital for severe burns and faces the loss of his home without homeowner's insurance.
Known details:
- The fire began when a propane tank caught fire on a deck at the residence in Little Canada.
- Martinez rescued his girlfriend and was later hospitalized with severe burns to his head, arm and leg at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
- Duke, Martinez's service dog and emotional support animal, died in the blaze; Martinez had adopted Duke to help with post-traumatic stress.
- Friends and colleagues have set up a GoFundMe page titled "Rebuilding for Leopoldo after the Fire" to help cover losses, and Martinez does not have homeowner's insurance.
Summary:
The fire left Martinez hospitalized, without his service dog, and without a home, while friends have organized fundraising to address immediate losses. Undetermined at this time.
