A little dog named Leo has been proclaimed a hero after risking his own life to protect four kittens in a Melbourne house fire overnight.
The plucky pooch tested the courage and skills of firefighters as they were forced to dodge fallen power lines to reach him and his young feline companions at the burning weatherboard home in Pilgrim Street, Seddon just before 9pm (AEDT).
Commander Ian Brown said family pet Leo, which remained in the house guarding the family's four-week-old kittens, owed his life to the firefighters.
"They got him out of the house and successfully resuscitated him," he said. "They are just there spending some time now with Leo before they go off duty."
Following a few tense minutes, the animals responded to oxygen and therapy, and were now fully revived.
Commander Brown said the family was relieved to be reunited with their family pets, including the mother of the kittens, which had initially been lost in the incident.
"Everyone's fine ... we rescued anyone," Commander Brown said.
An 11-year-old girl suffered smoke inhalation as she made her escape, and was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital for observation.
She was at the home with her 37-year-old mother, a five-year-old sister and 18-year-old brother when the fire started in the front room.
However, Commander Brown said the lives of firefighters were put at further risk, with the family not having an evacuation plan or smoke alarms.
"A proper working smoke alarm and an evacuation plan equals a safer escape."
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
