Lt. Tim Caudill of the Johnson County Fire Protection District kneels with Red, the dog credited with alerting his owner about their house being on fire outside Warrensburg on Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Johnson Co. Fire Protection District)

Johnson County once again proved that a dog is “man’s best friend”, as a Warrensburg resident is crediting his dog for alerting him to a fire at his home Monday evening.

The Johnson County Fire Protection District says crews responded to a house fire Monday night around 9:45 p.m. on the 100 block of Southeast 685 Road. Firefighters say they encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions in the single-family residence, but soon learned that the 66-year-old man living there was able to escape. He was treated for smoke inhalation at a nearby hospital. The resident told firefighters that he had been sleeping when the fire began, and credited his dog Red for alerting him about the fire. Firefighters say Red was evaluated for smoke inhalation at an area animal clinic and then treated to a bath at an animal daycare.

The district says an initial investigation found that the fire started in the basement near a pellet stove and spread into the attic. Crews from three fire stations responded to the blaze, with no firefighters reporting any injuries.