Dog that saved owners will have his day
By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer
KANE'OHE — A dog that saved its owners from a fast-moving fire will become the first animal to receive the Honolulu Fire Department's Medal of Valor in ceremonies today at the 'Aikahi Fire Station.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Usually we award it to civilians who perform significant acts of bravery in fire, ocean, mountain or EMS rescue efforts," said department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo. But, "Sumo truly went beyond the call for any animal," said Soo.
Lurline and Abel DeGagne say they owe their lives to Sumo, whose persistent barking alerted them to a fire that eventually engulfed their home.
Lurline and Abel DeGagne barely escaped the Feb. 16 blaze, which destroyed their $250,000 cedar house and all its contents. Lurline DeGagne said they had less than five minutes to get out, and the couple and fire officials say they owe their lives to Sumo, a 7-year-old mixed breed.
Lurline DeGagne, 54, said Sumo woke her at 1 a.m. with his persistent, fierce barking.
"He was barking so angrily," DeGagne said.
Thinking it was a prowler, she rushed to her bedroom window.
"The fire was going good, crackling and popping," she said.
She saw a red glow below. And she heard noise — like fireworks. Sumo hates fireworks, DeGagne said.
She and her husband raced out of the house. Abel DeGagne, 65, grabbed a garden hose while his wife got their truck out of the carport.
Suddenly she realized her two dogs were still upstairs, stuck in the bedroom. She ran around the burning house and up the hillside calling for her dogs. Both Sumo and Millie, a 2-year-old red retriever, followed her voice and found their way out.
Flames quickly engulfed the three-bedroom residence and threatened neighboring homes. It took eight fire units and 40 firefighters half an hour to bring the fire under control. It was more than seven hours later that firefighters finally extinguished the fire, officials said.
"It was horrible," said neighbor Richard Paiva, whose home was damaged by the blaze "The fire guys couldn't get up the steep driveway."
The fire began when paper towels, saturated with linseed oil and left in a plastic bucket in the carport, ignited spontaneously. The couple had earlier used the towels for woodwork, fire officials said.
The couple had fire alarms in all the rooms, but they didn't hear them go off. It was only through Sumo's barking that they were saved, said Lurline DeGagne.
"It was a bad fire," said Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada, who was at the scene. "The fire department wanted to recognize the fact that the people are really grateful for what Sumo did."
The couple has not rebuilt yet. Their insurance money didn't cover the entire cost of replacing the home. Meanwhile, they're renting.
The couple's hillside lot overlooking Kane'ohe Bay still smells burned. Only a mailbox and a deck remain where their home once stood.
"But we have the dogs, and we have each other," Lurline DeGagne said. "We can always rebuild."
Reach Kapono Dowson at kdowson@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.
