Current:Home > MarketsNeighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act -Infinite Edge Learning
Neighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act
View
Date:2025-04-13 07:01:57
In a dramatic rescue, a brave neighbor is seen pulling residents out of a Pennsylvania home that became engulfed by black smoke.
In the video from the incident on April 14, you can hear on lookers yelling for one of the men to get out of the Minersville home, 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Firefighters below can be seen hastily getting their equipment ready to bring the man to safety, according to Storyful.
“Come on! Come on! Come on!” yelled Janeen Huth, a passerby who recorded the heroic scene as she was on her way home. “Come on buddy, get out!”
People in the street are heard yelling for the man to get out of the house through the top floor window.
The brave citizen, identified as Oscar Rivera, pulled the man from the window while balancing himself on the roof.
“Grab his pants!” Huth said.
Rivera then pulled the man through the window. People that were watching in the street clapped and cheered for the man’s rescue. A firefighter is then seen climbing up a ladder to bring the man and woman, that were already on the roof, to safety.
In a split second, the smoke gained more momentum and got thicker, making it hard to see the three people on the roof.
“Come on get them down!” Huth said. “Just move her over!”
A firefighter was able to get all three of the people from the roof and to safety.
Huth told Storyful that Rivera saved the woman and elderly man as his children witnessed their father’s heroic event unfold.
Fire destroys:Copenhagen's historic Old Stock Exchange as residents race to save treasures
Minersville Mayor thanked brave neighbor and others for springing into action
In a Facebook post, Minersville Mayor Sean Palmer thanked Oscar Rivera for helping to bring his neighbors to safety.
“First of all I would like to publicly thank the individuals who sprung into action to save those two individuals,” Palmer wrote in the post. “Mr. Rivera was a civilian who was first on the scene. He showed bravery and was able to extract a man and women from the top floor window of the burning building.”
Palmer then thanked the firefighters who helped during the rescue.
“I would also like to recognize the two volunteer fire fighters who went up ladders to the top floor to get them all down,” Palmer said. “Fire Chief Mike Melochick from the Mountaineer Hose Company #1 and volunteer fire fighter Luke Heffron from Minersville Fire Rescue. These two volunteer fire fighters went up the ladder to get all three of them off the roof and out of harms way.”
Palmer said that both firefighters were treated for severe smoke inhalation but are expected to be okay.
Red Cross says multiple people were displaced because of the fire
The Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter helped the families that were impacted by the fire.
"Our Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter did respond and provided support to the 19 people impacted by this fire," Stephanie Fox, media relations lead for the American Red Cross National Headquarters told USA TODAY. "Support provided included immediate assistance and caseworker assessment of each families situation and what individual needs they may have."
Fox said 15 adults and four children were helped by the Pennsylvania Chapter.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.
veryGood! (62)
Related
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Too early or not soon enough? Internet reacts to Starbucks dropping Pumpkin Spice Lattes Aug. 22
- College students are going viral on TikTok for luxury dorm room makeovers. You won't believe it.
- Cruise will dispatch some of its trouble-ridden robotaxis to join Uber’s ride-hailing service
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- BMW recalls over 720,000 vehicles due to water pump malfunction that may cause a fire
- Survivor Host Jeff Probst Shares the Strange Way Show Is Casting Season 50
- Michigan doctor charged for filming women, children in changing area: 'Tip of the iceberg'
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Andrew Tate placed under house arrest as new human trafficking allegations emerge involving minors
Ranking
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Want an EV With 600 Miles of Range? It’s Coming
- Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz joins rare club with 20-homer, 60-steal season
- Raise Your Glass to Pink and Daughter Willow's Adorable Twinning Moment While Performing Together
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- NWSL scraps draft in new CBA, a first in US but typical elsewhere in soccer
- Sabrina Carpenter Walks in on Jenna Ortega Showering in “Taste” Teaser
- Viral video captures bottlenose dolphins rocketing high through the air: Watch
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
The Daily Money: A weaker job market?
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nonsense Outro
Tropical storm forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hawaii this weekend
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
Apache Group is Carrying a Petition to the Supreme Court to Stop a Mine on Land Sacred to the Tribe
When do cats stop growing? How to know your pet has reached its full size
5-year-old Utah boy dies from accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound