RALEIGH — A Raleigh family escaped serious injury during a weekend fire thanks in large part to an unlikely hero.

Christie Cameron and her family lost just about everything in a fast-moving fire that destroyed their west Raleigh home.

The family was able to get out of the home safely thanks to Copper, the family's 12-year-old, three-legged, Golden Retriever.

Cameron says Copper woke the family before the smoke detectors went off with her own type of alarm system.

"About 2:15 in the morning, Copper put her head up on the bed and started nudging," says Cameron. "She kept at it, and then I woke up and saw it was very bright and realized the house was on fire."

Copper lost her front leg in a car accident about twelve years ago. Her owners say it has never slowed her down.

There is still no word on what caused the fire.