Sleeping Mom and Daughter Saved by Rescue Dog Just ‘30 Seconds’ Before Fire Engulfed Their RV

A mother and daughter say their rescue dog saved their lives after their RV suddenly caught fire while they were sleeping.

Joi Roberts and her daughter, Heather Belliveau, were inside their motorhome when it burst into flames on Tuesday, Dec. 23, according to local outlet WPTV. As thick, toxic smoke rapidly filled the space, their rescue dog, Wiley, began barking frantically, waking them just in time.

“If it would have been 30 seconds later, I don’t know that we would have been able to get my mom out,” Belliveau told the outlet, adding that the RV was already “engulfed with smoke” when they escaped.

Photos taken after the fire show the RV’s interior badly damaged, with melted wiring, heavy smoke residue, and ash coating nearly everything inside.

Local nonprofit Ginger’s Pet Food Pantry said it was assisting the family at the scene, sharing an update on Facebook.

“We are currently assisting a family who tragically lost everything in a house fire,” the organization wrote. “In the midst of all this loss, they have two little dogs, and we will be making sure those pups have everything they need — food, supplies and care — so they can stay safe and together during this incredibly difficult time.”

Roberts also lost her resale business in the blaze. Still, she said there was one small but meaningful miracle: the Christmas presents she had bought for her grandchildren survived the fire.

“I can’t explain it,” Roberts told WPTV. “Other than it’s just another miracle. I think we had an evening of miracles, a night of miracles.”

For now, the mother and daughter are staying in a hotel as they search for a permanent place to live.

A family member has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Roberts and Belliveau recover from the loss. The fundraiser was organized by Danielle Roberts, who described the emotional toll of the disaster.

“My elderly mother-in-law lost her home in a sudden and devastating fire,” she wrote. “Everything she owned — memories, belongings, and the place she felt safest — was gone in a matter of minutes.”

Danielle also credited Wiley’s quick instincts with ensuring the family’s safe escape.

“This loss is not just material — it’s emotional,” she continued. “After a lifetime of hard work, she is now left trying to piece together what comes next at a time in life when stability matters most.”

She added, “We are asking for any help you can give — whether it’s a donation, a share, or simply keeping her in your thoughts and prayers. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help restore a sense of security and dignity during this incredibly difficult time.”