Animals rescued in Sugar Grove fire

Several dogs, a kitten and a rabbit have two Kane County sheriff's deputies and a bystander to thank for their lives after being rescued from a Sugar Grove fire.

The animals were being boarded in various areas of a farm house at 4S020 Harter Road when flames broke out in a second-story laundry room Friday while the property owner was away, Sugar Grove Fire Chief Marty Kunkel said.

First on the scene was Drew Harbecke of Hinckley. He said he saw flames coming from windows on the house when he was driving past. After his knocks went unanswered, Harbecke kicked in the front door and began searching for people. He returned with several dogs, police said, then called 911 at 7:47 p.m.

Kane County Sheriff's Sgt. Branden Gentry said authorities thought all of the animals were already out of the house when they arrived shortly later. It wasn't until the homeowner turned up that they learned a ferret, kitten and rabbit were among pets still trapped inside.

"She was so upset about the animals," Gentry recalled. "I said, 'Well, let me see what I can do.'"

Gentry said fire crews were busy dousing the flames, which had spread to an attic and other hard-to-reach areas, so he and sheriff's Deputy Denny Wallace made a split decision to go inside.

It was a decision they'd end up making not once, not twice, but three times.

"I have a dog and I know if my dog was inside, I'd want it out," Wallace explained. "It's something you don't think about. You just do it."

The officers freed two German shepherds from a corral area in the structure's attached three-car garage. The cat was found hiding in the house, as was the rabbit, which was discovered clutching the top of its cage.

Gentry said water from firefighters' hoses leaked through the ceiling as he entered the house, and, at times, the smoke almost became too much for the deputies.

"But we were worried for the animals," he said.

Firefighters ordered the duo out before they could find the ferret. Because of all the commotion, authorities did not get an exact count of how many animals were saved.

All but one of the dogs, believed to be a Doberman pinscher, were not seriously hurt. Harbecke took the injured dog to an emergency animal clinic in the Aurora area with "some heat exposure to its face and lungs," according to the fire chief.

"I've been told it's doing better," Kunkel said Wednesday, adding one other dog did "unfortunately perish on the second floor."

Authorities did not identify the homeowner.

Kunkel said local firefighters spent a good hour getting the flames under control. Surrounding municipalities hauled in extra tankers of water because the area is not served by hydrants.

Arson has been ruled out and the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Kunkel estimated damage to the house and its contents at $275,000. "It's definitely repairable, but it's not inhabitable," Kunkel said.

Gentry, a 12-year veteran of the sheriff's office, said the homeowner expressed gratitude for saving her animals. He said Harbecke who helped deserved as much credit as the deputies.

"Most people call 911 and wait," Gentry said. "He went the extra mile."

But Harbecke dismissed such talk.

"I didn't do anything special. I just happened to drive by at the right tim