KALAHEO — Ronnie Dotario was in the bathroom Friday morning, minding his own business, when he was alarmed by his 5-year-old beagle, Scooby, who wouldn’t stop pestering him. Scooby’s barking was loud, frequent and more energetic than usual. It got
KALAHEO — Ronnie Dotario was in the bathroom Friday morning, minding his own business, when he was alarmed by his 5-year-old beagle, Scooby, who wouldn’t stop pestering him.
Scooby’s barking was loud, frequent and more energetic than usual.
It got to the point where Scooby ran and collided with the bathroom door to get Dotario’s attention.
“He ran back to the patio and kept barking, and I said, ‘Something is wrong over here.’” Dotario said. “I got up pretty fast, he hit the door again and I said, ‘Go.’ When he went back by the screen, he was looking at that house.”
On his patio, Dotario commanded the beagle to be quiet.
The Kalaheo man heard the faint sound of a plea for help: “Help me, neighbor. Help me. Please, someone, help me.”
Two doors down, Dotario spotted a small fire behind his neighbor’s house.
On the fly, Dotario saw his neighbor of 40 years, Max Miyashiro, getting into his truck.
“Max, come help me. The house is on fire,” Dotario shouted.
“I was just following him because he was asking for help,” Miyashiro said. “When we got there, we were looking for (our neighbor). I saw her sitting down next to the heater, which was on fire.”
Their neighbor, who wished to not be identified, confirmed the rescue and the heroics of the two men and the beagle.
“Ron was trying to get the hose to put the fire out,” Miyashiro said. “He was having trouble, so I told him I’d take care of the house and he can help (our neighbor). I set up the hose and started to shoot the fire.”
No injuries were reported, according to county spokeswoman Sarah Blane.
Engine 5 and Truck 5 from the Kalaheo fire station arrived at the scene to find the fire that broke out in the back portion of a one-story home had already been contained, according to the report.
Firefighters inspected the area to ensure that the blaze was fully extinguished and the cause of the fire remains unknown.
Since Scooby came into his family’s life, Dotario said the beagle’s behavior on Friday was atypical.
“He hasn’t done anything like that in the past,” Dotario said. “He’s barking was too excited than it normally is. Scooby was the guy who alarmed me and got me to get Max.”
Dotario is thankful Miyashiro was in the right place at the right time.
“Without Max, I couldn’t do anything else,” he said. “Max’s wife took care of everything and called 911. Without her, too, we couldn’t have done anything.”
