Alameda County Fire Chief Hospitalized After Pit Bull Attack

SAN LEANDRO, CA -- An Alameda County battalion chief is awaiting surgery Monday after being mauled by a pit bull during a fire rescue over the weekend. A spokeswoman for the Fire Department said John Whiting is at Stanford Hospital where a team of experts are determining the best treatment plan for the firefighter.

Whiting was seriously injured when fire crews responded to a blaze in the 16000 block of Maubert Avenue outside of San Leandro, according to Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles.

Arriving firefighters rescued a 15-year-old girl, who was apparently hanging out of the window of the two-story house, and up to 20 dogs that lived in the house. Whiting was attacked by a male pit bull while he was talking to the girl, Knowles said.

Sgt. Raymond Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said investigators are looking into the living conditions of the animals and whether there is "any criminal liability on the part of the owners."

No other information was immediately available.

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Photo via Shutterstock