Firehouse Dalmatians Still `Part of the Gang`

Dec. 30--With names like Ember and Cinder, the Dalmatian is still synonymous with firefighters in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Ember was the beloved firehouse dog at Tarentum's Eureka Fire Rescue but died just before Christmas as the result of congestive heart failure. She was 11 years old.

In a tribute to the importance of this Dalmatian's role, "Sgt. Ember Teo of Akerue" -- Eureka spelled backward -- was escorted by a fire truck for her final visit to the veterinarian's office.

"I can't talk about it without crying," said Shannon McKruit, operations manager at Eureka.

A century ago, the black-and-white spotted dogs protected horses that pulled the wagons carrying the firefighters and equipment.

A few fire companies still carry on the Dalmatian tradition but for more modern reasons.

Today's firehouse dog plays a vital part in the fire department's family as companion, comforter and mascot.

"This dog was very important to us for therapy after a bad call," said Rich Heuser, chief of Eureka Fire Rescue EMS. "People can see and play with the dog."

Cinder, the 3-year-old Dalmatian at Monroeville Fire Department Co. No. 5, "increases the morale and is good to show off to people who come to the station," said Zach Weisner, an EMS officer for Monroeville.

So beloved was Monroeville's previous Dalmatian, BJ, that in 1990, the dog became the namesake for the department's for-profit car wash, "BJ's Spotless Car Wash."

The car wash's sign features a Dalmatian jumping through the car wash and losing its spots.

"The firehouse dog is a part of the gang, a part of the fire station," said Ron Harvey, chief of Monroeville's No. 5.

Given the charisma of a Dalmatian, people have always wanted to see Ember.

Day care students who regularly passed by Eureka's station often asked, "Can Ember come out?"

According to firefighters who escorted Ember to parades, she attracted more attention than a beauty queen. Some say residents recognized her more than Heuser, the company's longtime chief.

Ember was a firefighter's firefighter. She knew the distinct series of tones broadcast over the radio to alert Eureka firefighters to respond to a call.

"Ember would be in the truck before we got our gear on," McKruit said.

She often sat in the front seat of Eureka's main fire truck, accompanying firefighters to the scene, staying in the truck's rig -- rather protecting the truck's rig.

For the Monroeville station, Cinder, like other firehouse dogs, can stop, drop and roll to teach children what they should do if they catch on fire. The dog also has been trained to take its paw to swat at someone holding a flame.

"Cinder is a great instructional aide and he makes it more animated for children to learn," Weisner said.

Memories of Ember will doubtlessly endure but her spirit lives on in another Dalmatian, Ramsey, a part-time firehouse dog owned by Heuser and McKruit. Of course, Ramsey and Ember were buddies.

The Dalmatian continues to be so important to Eureka that Heuser and company are looking to add another live-in Dalmatian to the ranks in 2017.

Copyright 2016 - The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.