K-9 recovering after being badly burned in car fire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 was taken to an animal hospital after a state government vehicle caught fire Monday.

Our Action News Jax cameras were rolling moments after firefighters were called to a vehicle, fire with a dog in the vehicle, just before 1:30 p.m. Monday in western Duval County.

Lewis Lee and his friend saw the fire after playing golf.

“Little did I know there was a canine inside that vehicle. It was government guys eating lunch,” Lee said.

Lee says when they saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the black Ford Explorer, they tried to use fire extinguishers.

“They got up in a hurry, sprinted out to the parking lot and realized it was their vehicle and we went into action to save the K-9,” Lee said.

Local firefighters, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, ATF and state police were all on scene.

The cause of the fire is now under federal investigation.

Lee says the dog appeared to be OK after they got it out of the car, but it could’ve turned out much differently.

Action News Jax is working to learn what caused the fire and the condition of the dog hurt in the fire.

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