Hero teens save pets from fiery grave

TWO brave teens Savanna Daubinet (14) and Eleanor Cunning (13) were the first to respond to the blaze that destroyed a home on Homestead Road in Forest Hills on Wednesday 23 April at approximately 5.45pm.

Savanna, a neighbour, was being dropped off at home by Cunning and her father, Andrew, when they heard loud bangs. She leapt back into the car, thinking that they were being hijacked, but soon noticed smoke rising from the home next door.

“I jumped out of the car and tried to phone the police, but realised that in my panic I could not remember the number, so I phoned my dad and asked him to call the various emergency services as well as the owners,” said Savanna.

The teen reported that she then ran down to the house, as she was familiar with the yard. She jumped over the fence and began banging on the doors and windows, while shouting to determine if anyone was stuck in the house. “I realised that nobody was home, when I noticed that there were no cars in the garage,” said Savanna.

Savanna and her friend, Eleanor, then began to rally the home owner’s pets and carefully lifted the pets over the fence. “By that time the flames were nearly five meters tall. We managed to find and save two of the dogs, an Alsatian-cross and another medium sized dog,” said Savanna.

The owner and her two daughters arrived at the scene a few minutes later. According to Savanna, the owners realised that two of their dogs were missing, and with the help of other neighbours broke the burglar guards and smashed one of the home’s windows to gain entry into the house. “The wife went into the burning home to try and find her little dogs. She called for a while but then was forced to escape as the fire was getting worse. As she exited the window the section of the roof where she had been standing collapsed,” said Savanna.

At this stage the Gillitts Fire Department had not arrived and neighbours began rallying against the fire. They watered the grass and plants between the burning house and the cottage in the bottom of the garden as well as the vegetation between the burning house and the Daubinet’s house, to prevent the fire from spreading.

The fire department arrived at approximately 6.30pm. It is believed that they were occupied with the vehicle that caught fire and exploded on Inanda Road in Hillcrest and another fire in the area. Despite several attempts the Highway Mail has been unable to receive comment from the station.

Savanna reported that the fire fighters doused the fire at approximately 9.45pm. After inspection one of the Pugs was discovered hiding in the garden. Sadly, the other Pugs died in the blaze.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by the home owner’s insurance company. According to the reports it is believed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.