Teen Hero Rushes To Save Doberman Trapped in Backyard Inferno
For Beau the Doberman Pinscher, 18-year-old Damien Garcia is a hero. Last Monday, a fire broke out at a home in Bakersfield, California.
Around 10:30 p.m., a series of fires ignited in the alley near David Stewart’s house. He rushed his family to safety out the front door and tried to go back for Beau, but the backyard where Beau was had become a hellscape—flames shooting high into the air. Stewart feared there was no way his young dog could have survived the blaze.
What he didn’t know was that Garcia had seen the fire and sprinted two blocks to the alley, hoping he could help.
Garcia spotted Beau trapped under debris. The high school senior told KGET News that he kicked down the fence and tried to grab her, but the chain she was attached to wouldn’t budge. He began a desperate tug-of-war with the chain, knowing he had only moments as flames closed in and an electric pole burned nearby.
As luck would have it, two freelance photojournalists, Jacob Davidson and Eric Isbell, arrived on the scene to take news footage and noticed Garcia struggling. They stopped filming and ran over to help. Together, the three managed to cut Beau’s collar off and free her.
Authorities are now investigating what appears to be a suspicious fire.
As for Beau—she’s alive and well. She suffered some burns, but she’s expected to make a full recovery.
Stewart is incredibly grateful for Garcia’s bravery and selflessness, saying the teen didn’t just save a dog — he saved a family member.
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