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Owosso man applauded for heroic efforts

By MICHAEL PETERSON Argus-Press Staff Writer

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Friday, July 3, 2009 10:04 AM EDT

OWOSSO - Resident Tomme Combs, 31, is hesitant to call himself a hero, but witnesses who saw his selfless actions during a May 25 fire aren't nearly as reluctant.

On Memorial Day, at about 7:30 p.m., a fire started at a home located at 900 Ament St.

Before fire officials arrived at the scene, it was unclear if anyone was in the house, but witnesses were able to hear a dog barking inside.

Deatta Conrad, who lives in the neighborhood, said she and other area residents were crowding around the home, trying to call the dog out. It was about then when Conrad said she saw Combs run past and enter the front of the burning house.

“I thought to myself, ‘Oh my Lord, have mercy,'” Conrad said. “We were all amazed.”

Combs was in the neighborhood visiting his brother. He said he crawled into the house on his hands and knees, and found the dog tied to a door knob.

“It was pitch black, and there was a mix of black and white smoke,” he said. “I couldn't see a thing.”

It was then he discovered that the man who lived in the house, Adam Allen, was still inside. Combs' yelling for the dog had woken him up.

“I didn't know if I was going to live or die,” Combs said, adding the only thing on his mind when he entered was saving the dog. “I'm glad I went in there. It made me feel better to know that I woke the man up.”

Tomme Combs' father, Roger, wasn't quite as thrilled when he heard what happened.

“I thought he was crazy,” he said. “He didn't have anything to protect himself.”

After both Allen and the dog were safely out of the home, Allen and Combs re-entered the house a couple more times - once because Allen wasn't sure if his family was still inside, and again to save the family's pet kittens. Allen's wife and daughter, however, were not in the home at the time of the fire.

“I kept thinking to myself, ‘Oh my God, he is insane,'” Conrad said. “Tomme was risking his life every single time he went back in.”

Combs applauded Allen on his courage for re-entering his home, as well. Neither of them were injured.

Owosso Public Safety Director Mike Compeau said the fire was deemed accidental, started by food left on the stove. The house had significant damage, but was not a total loss.

Compeau said Combs will most likely be given a citizen award at the police department's annual banquet, usually held in February.

He added it is rare for a citizen to enter a burning home.

“He put his own life in danger,” Compeau said. “I'd say it was a pretty brave act.”

Conrad said she is certain if Combs hadn't taken action, Allen and his dog would not have made it.

“We all just sat there. None of us would've gone in. He really went above and beyond,” Conrad said. “Afterwards, we all went up to him and said that he was a hero. He just said, ‘I did what I had to do.'”

- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.

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