Dog alerts neighbor of early morning fire; handicapped woman airlifted with burns

Nov. 08--A 50-year-old woman with special needs suffered serious burns in a Putnam County house fire early Tuesday.

Wendy Royal burned her upper body, head and neck -- injuries that covered about 40 percent of her body, said Glenn Allen, spokesman for Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.

Royal's mother and sister escaped unharmed, but the family dog perished, Allen said.

A neighbor's barking dog helped prevent further tragedy when the house caught fire near downtown Eatonton.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said his department was notified at 3:50 a.m. that the house was on fire at 505 N. Jefferson Ave., which is U.S. 441 through town.

"A neighbor's dog was barking and the lady woke up and saw the house next door on fire," Sills said.

She alerted authorities, but Royal was not able to escape quickly and suffered burns, Sills said.

"This is the time of year for house fires," said Sills, noting the change in the weather.

Georgia fire marshals are trying to pinpoint the cause of the blaze which tore through the house.

"Investigators are looking at the front porch area as the origin," Allen said. "There were some electrical cords on the front porch."

Royal was airlifted to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Allen said.

Her condition was not immediately available.

Liz Fabian: 478-744-4303, @liz_lines

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