UPDATE: Dog Lost, Home Destroyed: Victorville Man Describes Painful Fight to Save Pet
VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Residents were displaced Thursday evening after a fire broke out in their home, causing significant damage and resulting in the loss of a dog.
The fire was reported just before 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2025, at a home in the 14650 block of Maricopa Road, near Del Gado Road in the unincorporated area of Victorville.
Before firefighters arrived, neighbors rushed to help. Video shared in the VVNG Facebook Group shows several residents using garden hoses as they attempted to slow the growing flames.
When fire crews arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and active fire coming from the home. Firefighters conducted a rapid search to ensure no one was trapped inside.
All occupants were accounted for, including a woman who was initially believed to be inside but later located safely in a trailer behind the home.
A dog from the residence received emergency medical care at the scene, including oxygen treatment. Animal Control was requested to respond and transport the surviving dogs to an emergency veterinary facility for further care.
No human injuries were reported. The home sustained significant damage and was deemed uninhabitable. The American Red Cross was advised and requested to assist the displaced residents.
In His Own Words: What Happened
Resident Joe Coe shared with VVNG what he described as a traumatic and heartbreaking attempt to save his dog, Cujo Coe, an American Bully XL who did not survive the fire.
Coe said he had just let Cujo inside, as part of their nightly routine, when neighbors alerted him that the house was burning. He immediately ran toward the back door where flames were already visible.
“I couldn’t hear Cujo barking,” Coe said.
He attempted multiple ways to reach the dog, including the back door, a dog door, and interior access points. He said when he finally managed to open a door using a fingerprint lock, he was hit with thick smoke and heat so intense it forced him backward.
Struggling to breathe and visibility near zero, Coe continued calling Cujo’s name and made repeated attempts to push further inside.
“I was choking on smoke. I kept screaming his name. At one point I thought he ran past me, but it was just more smoke.”
After several attempts, Coe said the heat and smoke became overwhelming.
“That was the moment I realized if he was in there, he wasn’t alive.”
Coe said there were four dogs in the home, and Cujo was the only one who did not escape.
He shared that the loss comes after already losing his entire family during the COVID pandemic.
“This is more than a fire story; it’s a story of devastating loss. I lost my family to COVID. I then lost everything I owned in this fire. Cujo Coe was my rock — my last family member — and I lost him too.”
Coe said he is now without a home and struggling to find shelter.
“The fire left me homeless again — this time worse off than I was. The wellness center is full. No beds left. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Without him, I’m not whole.”
He described Cujo as deeply intuitive and grounding.
“Cujo Coe was a legend. He had an unforgettable presence. He always knew when someone needed comfort, and he never walked away until he was sure you were okay.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated from the original version published on December 4, 2025, after VVNG received new verified information and firsthand statements from a resident of the home.
