UPPER ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

A family is lucky to be alive after their home went up in flames. Their dog is being credited with preventing a tragedy.

The fire broke out a little after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Pittsburgh suburb of Upper St. Clair.

"Our first concern was to make sure that everybody was out and everybody was out. And at that point, we got started with our attack and we stayed strictly defensive because of the collapse, it collapsed as soon as I got here," Upper St. Clair Fire Chief Ted Hale said.

Hale also noted that when they arrived, one of the fire hydrants they were trying to use was inoperable but were able to use another hydrant a couple of houses down.

According to Hale, a dog alerted the family who lived at the home to the fire, allowing them to escape.

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