A Melbourne police officer is receiving community support after being injured in a house fire.According to Jeffery Koeberl, who retired as a Sergeant with the Melbourne police department, officer Anthony Ciraco was going to make breakfast on December 18."While he was waiting for to heat up, he laid down by his dog and just kind of fell asleep and woke up to the crackling of the fire," Koeberl said.Koeberl said Ciraco tried to put out the flames, but it got out of control. Ciraco had to go back in and save his dog, who ran the wrong way.Although he was able to get out of the house, he suffered second-degree burns to his upper body and had to be taken to the hospital. His home was also heavily damaged. Koeberl, who considers Ciraco a younger brother, met him when Ciraco was a bartender. He felt the need to help by setting up a GoFundMe for the officer. More than $20,000 has been raised for officer Ciraco so far."The outpouring of support from the community, you know, Indialantic community where he's been all his life," Koeberl said. "It's just been really, really great for him to feel that support and love."Koeberl says while they have been able to salvage some things, Ciraco's townhome is a total loss. They are now looking for short-term living arrangements for him and his dog.

A Melbourne police officer is receiving community support after being injured in a house fire.

According to Jeffery Koeberl, who retired as a Sergeant with the Melbourne police department, officer Anthony Ciraco was going to make breakfast on December 18.

"While he was waiting for [the oil] to heat up, he laid down by his dog and just kind of fell asleep and woke up to the crackling of the fire," Koeberl said.

Koeberl said Ciraco tried to put out the flames, but it got out of control. Ciraco had to go back in and save his dog, who ran the wrong way.

Although he was able to get out of the house, he suffered second-degree burns to his upper body and had to be taken to the hospital. His home was also heavily damaged.

Koeberl, who considers Ciraco a younger brother, met him when Ciraco was a bartender. He felt the need to help by setting up a GoFundMe for the officer. More than $20,000 has been raised for officer Ciraco so far.

"The outpouring of support from the community, you know, Indialantic community where he's been all his life," Koeberl said. "It's just been really, really great for him to feel that support and love."

Koeberl says while they have been able to salvage some things, Ciraco's townhome is a total loss. They are now looking for short-term living arrangements for him and his dog.