Current:Home > InvestNeighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act -Quantum Capital Pro
Neighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act
View
Date:2025-04-12 15:32:30
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! (3)
Related
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Here is what scientists are doing to save Florida's coral reef before it's too late
- Look Back on All of the Love Is Blind Hookups That Happened Off-Camera
- 5 numbers that show Hurricane Fiona's devastating impact on Puerto Rico
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Extreme weather, fueled by climate change, cost the U.S. $165 billion in 2022
- Why Camila Cabello Fans Are Convinced Her New Song Is a Nod to Shawn Mendes
- Threats to water and biodiversity are linked. A new U.S. envoy role tackles them both
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Mark Consuelos Reveals Why Daughter Lola Doesn't Love His Riverdale Fame
Ranking
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Here’s What Joe Alwyn Has Been Up to Amid Taylor Swift Breakup
- Puerto Rico is without electricity as Hurricane Fiona pummels the island
- Predicting Landslides: After Disaster, Alaska Town Turns To Science
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- What to know about Brazil's election as Bolsonaro faces Lula, with major world impacts
- Dozens died trying to cross this fence into Europe in June. This man survived
- Get 2 Peter Thomas Roth Invisible Priming Sunscreens for Less Than the Price of 1
Recommendation
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
A guide to the types of advisories issued during hurricane season
The U.S. ratifies treaty to phase down HFCs, gases trapping 1,000x more heat than CO2
Maya Lin doesn't like the spotlight — but the Smithsonian is shining a light on her
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
5 numbers that show Hurricane Fiona's devastating impact on Puerto Rico
Why Olivia Culpo Joked She Was Annoyed Ahead of Surprise Proposal From Christian McCaffrey
Sarah Ferguson Breaks Silence on Not Attending King Charles III's Coronation