SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A Key West Police officer is on the road to recovery after being injured in a house fire in Big Pine Key.
The officer, Mike Pettee, has been recovering at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital since May 7th, when his home went up in flames.
Speaking to 7News on Tuesday, Pettee and his fiancée, Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Tiffany Rodda, said they were able to escape the fire at first after hearing their dogs barking.
“I opened the bedroom door and the house is already fully engulfed,” said Pettee.
“The entire bedroom was filled with smoke, I couldn’t even see my hand in front of me,” said Rodda. “It was so fast.”
However, during their escape, Pettee decided to go back inside the home to save his three dogs, who ultimately did not survive.
While inside, he sustained burns to his hands as well as internal burns to his lungs and was put in a coma.
“And then he came out, and he was black, like his face, his entire head, his hands were degloved,” said Rodda.
Pettee was flown to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital where he was treated by doctors.
“They’re seeing the patients in the field while I’m seeing them at the hospital,” said Dr. Haaris Mir, a burn surgeon. “It’s very nice to help somebody who you work with closely, intimately, in the center.”
Mir said that treating Pettee was like treating part of the team.
Weeks after the fire, the couple said that the prayers and financial support from the law-enforcement community have helped them through their darkest hours.
“It’s allowed me to focus truly on just trying to get better, and making sure I can get through this, and get back to work, and be a dad.” said Pettee.
Both Rodda and Pettee lost everything in the fire that took their home and pets, but said they are thankful to have each other.
“I don’t know that I could have had the strength to be strong for him, and let him know when he woke up, ‘Everything is going to be okay,’ if I didn’t have the support from our community,” said Rodda.
The couple added they are grateful to the team of doctors and staff at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital who helped Pettee after the incident.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the couple. If you would like to donate, click here.
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