A woman in West Milford, New Jersey, credits her standard poodle with alerting her to a house fire in the early hours of June 19, allowing her to escape before the blaze caused extensive damage.

Aida Kelly said the incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. when her dog, Squilliam, repeatedly barked and paced near her bedroom. Despite initially trying to ignore the noises, Kelly became concerned as the dog’s behavior grew more insistent. When she got out of bed, she discovered flames engulfing the back wall of her home and the sound of breaking glass as the fire spread.

Kelly quickly gathered a few belongings and Squilliam, then exited the house amid the sound of the smoke alarm activating. She contacted 911 after reaching a safe distance. Kelly said that had she waited for the smoke alarm alone, she believes their chances of escape would have been far more limited.

“My fire alarm was my dog going back and forth barking,” Kelly said.

Her husband and son were not home at the time. Kelly, who has lived in the house for 12 years, is now staying with her adult daughter about 50 minutes away, having lost nearly all possessions to the fire.

Michael Moscatello, West Milford’s fire marshal and a retired firefighter with 35 years of experience, responded to the scene and noted that the fire was already well advanced upon his arrival. He credited Squilliam’s alertness with giving Kelly critical time to escape, highlighting the ability of dogs to detect danger through heightened senses of smell and hearing.

“Considering how quick the fire traveled through the home, he gave her a lot more time to escape,” Moscatello said.

Moscatello said that the fire originated at the rear exterior of the house, which may explain the delay in the smoke alarm’s activation. The cause remains under investigation, with officials examining multiple potential sources.

Kelly described her three-year-old poodle, named after a character from “SpongeBob SquarePants,” as intelligent and vigilant, expressing deep gratitude for the dog’s role in her survival.

“He is my hero, my angel,” she said. “He watched over me.”

The fire resulted in the destruction of the family’s home and belongings. Despite the loss, Kelly expressed relief and appreciation for Squilliam’s timely warning that likely saved her life.