It’s a sad week in San Francisco. Michael James Keenan, the hero who rain into a burning building to save a dog, has died. Our hearts go out to his family.

His was a good and worthy life. I have no doubt he was given true hero’s welcome at the Bridge.

Thanks to WMTW.com for this news of a sad ending to a valiant life.

Artist Who Saved Dog From Fire Succumbs To Injuries

SAN FRANCISCO — A Maine-born artist who once rescued a drowning woman in San Francisco Bay has died of injuries he sustained four months ago while saving a friend’s dog from a burning house.

Michael James Keenan, 44, died in a San Francisco hospital of complications from burns. He sustained burns over 80 percent of his body in February when he rescued a Jack Russell terrier from a home on Russian Hill.

For several weeks after he was injured, friends and family were optimistic Keenan would recover. Doctors initially said his chances of survival were 50-50.

Friends of Keenan, who grew up in Yarmouth, Maine, established a fund to help pay for his hospital expenses.

But a childhood friend, Owen Kelly, said Keenan recently came down with an infection and suffered a stroke Sunday night. He was pronounced brain dead the next day.

For more information on Keenan, visit his blog.