The Altoona Fire Department tended to a different type of patient Sunday at the scene of a head on crash near the East Mix Master on Interstate 80. In addition to saving people from what looked like a deadly car wreck, firefighters also rescued a black lab that was in the back seat. “During the extrication process we did see a female bystander in the back seat tending to a dog. We later found the dog laying on the concrete. It was pretty cold and windy and I’m sure all Iowans are aware of how crazy this weather has been. And some grown, gruff men quickly turned into some tender hearted fellas and we wrapped up the dog in some hospital blankets we carry in our fire engine and put the dog in our engine to wait for animal control to arrive,” Altoona Fire Department Lieutenant Doug Richardson said.