Current:Home > ContactNeighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act -Pinnacle Profit Strategies
Neighbor risks life to save man, woman from house fire in Pennsylvania: Watch heroic act
View
Date:2025-04-13 16:26:47
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! (3)
Related
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Robert De Niro says Apple, Gotham Awards cut his anti-Trump speech: 'How dare they do that'
- One year after protests shook China, participants ponder the meaning of the brief flare of defiance
- When is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting? Time, channel, everything to know
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Miley Cyrus Returns to the Stage With Rare Performance for This Special Reason
- Diplomatic spat over the Parthenon Marbles scuttles meeting of British and Greek leaders
- “Mr. Big Stuff” singer Jean Knight dies at 80
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Elevator drops 650 feet at a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 workers and injuring 75
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- 1 student killed, 1 injured in stabbing at Southeast High School, 14-year-old charged
- Purdue is new No. 1 as top of USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll gets reshuffled
- Belarus raids apartments of opposition activists as part of sweeping probe called latest crackdown
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- How much should you tip? How about nothing? Tipping culture is out of control.
- What is Young Thug being charged with? What to know as rapper's trial begin
- German-Israeli singer admits he lied when accusing hotel of antisemitism in a video that went viral
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Mark Cuban Leaving Shark Tank After Season 16
Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart Responds to Sugar Daddy Offer
Hurry! These Extended Cyber Monday Sales Won't Last Forever: Free People, Walmart, Wayfair, & More
Bodycam footage shows high
Hurry! These Extended Cyber Monday Sales Won't Last Forever: Free People, Walmart, Wayfair, & More
Stephen Colbert forced to sit out 'Late Show' for a week due to ruptured appendix
German-Israeli singer admits he lied when accusing hotel of antisemitism in a video that went viral