E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSNEW YORK -- An elderly couple and their cat were rescued Christmas night by an off-duty firefighter who just happened to be driving past their home as it was engulfed in flames, the New York City Fire Department said Monday.
"I saw the flames from a block away," firefighter Steven Carl was quoted as saying after the rescue on Staten Island.
Carl was returning home with his family from his parents' house just before midnight. He said he was met outside the burning home by a woman with burns on her face and screaming that her "babies" were still inside.
Unable to get in the front door due to the fire, Carl ran to the back where he saw an elderly couple on a tiny second-floor balcony, the department stated.
Grabbing a ladder in the backyard, Carl aided the couple, and their cat, to safety. The woman had burns and the man had cuts. Both were taken to a local hospital.
"Those people were in a bad spot and I’m just was glad I was able to help," he added.
Carl said he'd asked the couple about the babies the other woman referred to, and that those were two dogs, one of which was later rescued by responding firefighters. The other dog was unaccounted for.
As for the cause of the fire, officials said it was due to lights igniting the family's Christmas tree.
The department did not release the names of the victims or the condition of the home.
Leave a Comment:
Save the dogs. Forget about mom and dad.
Actually, it's a nice story about a guy doing good when it needed to be done.
Thankfully this off duty fireman came along. I hate to think what would have happened if he had not been driving by. It is good to know that there are still some people willing to stop and help. I realize that this guy was a firefighter, but he was off duty with no protective gear and no one to back him up. Not a lot of people would put themselves at risk like that for people they do not even know. Firemen are a mostly a special breed who definitely deserve our respect an support.
Finally, an uplifting story! Thanks to the firefighter who cared enough to stop and help. After all the mayhem that is reported, this story was a very welcome break.
...but you always have the other half of society, thats too lazy, and that throws trash out their car window, and wont even move fallin tree branches or shopping carts, debris etc., out of the road.
Then you have those that always complain and are negative instead of applauding the actions of a really good person, doing their job even off duty.
It's also why there are over 90,000 volunteer firefighters in NY State alone. Its not a job, but a way of life helping others.
And you have the ones complaining about the complainers.
Yami, you just had to get your 'downer' attitude into this discussion, didn't you? Go back to watching the tube or read a book or something but keep your depressing thoughts to yourself.
There are so many good people in our country. We should focus on them more. Such as fireman, police, nurses, all service workers. Anyone willing to do services for us. Everyone need help sometime. Lets stop talking about how bad things are and fine the good. There is good just look for it.
Amen!!
Ok, so the poor man set the place on fire for nothing?? j/k
stoopid: do you really live up to your name? What on earth would cause such a "stoopid" comment to come out of your mouth?
I totally agree that this was an uplifting story and I know about the bravery and undaunted good will of the firefighters in my own small town....they will go out of their way, on duty or off, to help those in need and those less fortunate. The individuals in our fire department dig into their own pockets to make up the difference at the holiday food drives every year. God bless them all, everywhere.
good hearted person. world needs more of that type.
Hats off to the off duty fireman! A real Hero. At least this wasn't an unincorporated area where they had to look up and see if the fees were paid, then deny a rescue effort
Don't tell Governor Scott Walker this. He hates public employees.
Good job firemen! Keep up the good work you always do.
I have several fiefighter friends. They are a special breed of people. They are adrenalin junkies and well trained. One of my friends gets antsy if he doesn't go on a run of any kind (fire related or not). I tease him that he just likes to ride the big red truck with the flashy lights. I do think that's part of it. He gets a goofy grin when he sees any kind of fire truck. They are good people and it doesn't matter if they are on duty or off, if there is trouble they are on it. When they talk about fighting a fire it's almost like they view it as a living being/foe that they go after. Congress and state governments need to pull their heads out of their asses and stop thinking cutting fire, rescue and police services as a way to save money. The jobs they do are NOT frivolous and unnecessary!!!! Firemen are the best!
How sad for those folks to lose almost everything. Having it be at Christmas (and because of Christmas, I guess) makes it even more sad. Hats off to the fireman who did the right thing. I know the firemen in our town would have done the same, and would be out 'passing the boot' the next day to help those people again. Be grateful, be generous, and BE CAREFUL. It's easy to forget how profoundly your actions can affect others.
Gotta love good samaritans! Great saves, guy! :o)
The Lord was with the fireman during that rescue. What a totally unselfish act of kindness & bravery!!
its a good thing this couple didnt live in TN where the firefighters responded to the scene of a fire and stayed in the truck and watched the family home burn to the ground for not paying a fee of seventy five dollars nice