Residents thankful after New Berlin firefighters rescue woman, dogs from apartment

NEW BERLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- We're hearing from people who live in the apartment building where New Berlin firefighters grabbed an unconscious woman from a fire on Friday in the 1200 block of Euclid Avenue.

Officials at the New Berlin Fire Department say the cause of that fire is still under investigation.

We talked to one man who says he wants to thank everyone at the fire department for keeping his neighbors and his family safe.

"You know my guys, my rescues, are my only family, so they're important," said J.P. Christensen, with one of his rescue dogs by his side.

Christensen lives at Woodridge apartments with his rescue dogs, Chester and Dano.

At 2 p.m. last Friday, his phone started buzzing in his pocket while at the gym.

"All of a sudden I looked at [my phone], it was my next-door neighbor, and she says hurry up, get here, the building's on fire," said Christensen.

One thing was on his mind: Chester and Dano.

"I raced over here, right back, and it was fire trucks and everything," said Christensen, describing the scene outside his apartment.

At the scene, bystanders caught on camera smoke billowing out of the apartment.

Firefighters removed an unconscious woman from the fire. You can see them tending to her before she was taken to the hospital.

As for Christensen's dogs, two firefighters were walking out with them as he arrived.

"I think these guys had a little bit of an angel watching them," said Christensen.

Christensen says the firefighters contained the fire to just one unit, and moved quickly to save everyone who was in danger. He says he can't think of what would've happened if they hadn't been there.

"This whole place could have went up, like," Christensen paused. "You know, and unfortunately, you know, we still don't know the status of a woman, and I guess prayers to her."

Most of all, he had this to say to everyone at New Berlin Fire.

"Thank you so much," said Christensen, tearfully.

At this time, there's still no word on the condition of the woman who was rescued from the fire and taken to the hospital.