Current:Home > ScamsNeighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act -Zenith Money Vision
Neighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act
View
Date:2025-04-13 08:35:34
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 [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.
veryGood! (4613)
Related
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Vermont college chapel renamed over eugenics link can keep new title, judge says
- American Water cyberattack renews focus on protecting critical infrastructure
- What presidential campaign? The Electoral College puts most American voters on the sidelines
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- I worked out with Jake Gyllenhaal, Matt Damon’s trainer. The results shocked me.
- Next Met Gala chairs: Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky and LeBron James
- Gene Simmons Facing Backlash Due to Comments Made During DWTS Appearance
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Traveling? These Are The Best Amazon Prime Day Deals on Life-Saving Travel Accessories, Starting at $7
Ranking
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- October Prime Day 2024: Score Up to 76% Off Top Earbuds & Headphones from Apple, Beats, Sony, Bose & More
- Former Sen. Tim Johnson, the last Democrat to hold statewide office in South Dakota, dies at 77
- North Carolina lawmakers pass $273M Helene relief bill with voting changes to more counties
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Got a notice of change from your Medicare plan? Here are 3 things to pay attention to
- Verizon says issue has been resolved after thousands reported outage Monday morning
- Fact-Checking the Viral Conspiracies in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Florida power outage map: Track where power is out as Hurricane Milton approaches landfall
Jennifer Lopez Breaks Silence on Ben Affleck Divorce
This California ballot measure promises money for health care. Its critics warn it could backfire
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Victim of fraud? Protections are different for debit, credit cards.
Top Prime Day 2024 Deals: 34 Gen Z-Approved Gifts from Apple, Laneige, Stanley & More That Will Impress
Record-Breaking Heat Waves Add to Risks for Western Monarchs