

When fire swept through a mobile home Wednesday in El Cajon, the owner managed to escape the flames and heavy smoke -- albeit it narrowly.

But when firefighters from Heartland Fire & Rescue got inside the home, they found the owner's Chihuahua unconscious and near death.

Once outside, firefighter-paramedic Travis Timmins utilized a pediatric oxygen mask to give oxygen to the dog, whose name is Mojo.

For an agonizing 10 minutes, as the homeowner watched, it was unclear if Mojo could be saved. Then it revived and was taken by El Cajon police to Broadway Animal Medical Center, where it is being treated for smoke inhalation.

The mobile home was a total loss, at $40,000. Mojo is expected to make a full recovery.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Firefighter-paramedics Travis Timmins, left, and Brendan Saffer work on Mojo.

Credit: Monica Zech / City of El Cajon