Family Feared Their Dogs Were Lost After a Fire, Then the Unthinkable Happened
A family in Florida is relieved to learn their dogs are okay after a massive junkyard fire.
On May 25, NBC Miami reported that a massive fire broke out at a junkyard and some nearby family-owned businesses in the city of Opa-locka in the evening.
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Both businesses are owned by the Lopez family, who have run JC Motors and Gary Used Auto Parts for the last 30 years, feared they lost their two dogs, Fantasma and Mimi, after the pair disappeared when the flames broke out.
Gary Lopez, one of the owners, told NBC Miami, "I don't have kids, so those are my kids," and was so worried that he "lost his best friends."
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Thankfully, the dogs were found in the ruins of their businesses, unharmed, 17 hours after the fire broke out. In a video posted by the outlet, the pups rushed over to their family and were happily reunited, earning plenty of belly rubs and pets.
"That feeling can't be beat. These are smart dogs," Lopez told the news outlet. "I just felt relief. That's like, your best friend."
How to keep your pets safe during a fire
One of the most important things to keep in mind when preparing for an emergency is to consider your pets. The American Red Cross reccomends including them in the family emergency plan so that they will also be kept safe.
"This includes having their own disaster supplies kit as well as arranging in advance for a safe place for them to stay if you need to leave your home," the Red Cross explains. "When you practice your escape plan, practice taking your pets with you. Train them to come to you when you call." The organization also notes to "never delay escape or endanger yourself or family to rescue a family pet."
During an active emergency, the organization also notes that it's important to evacuate your pets when evacuating your family.
If you're unable to evacuate your pets, they also recommend making it easy for firefighters to locate them during a rescue by "keeping collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet" and "keeping them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them."
It's also highly recommended to include a pet alert that states how many pets you have in your household to "save rescuers time when locating your pets," and to update the list so they know as well.
Related: Family's Garage Caught Fire While They Slept - Their Dog's Quick Thinking Saved Everything
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 8:15 AM.