Burlington County man helps pull neighbor from burning home
The police department gave thanks to the officers and also the neighbor who took action.
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A man in Burlington County leapt into action to help save his neighbor from a house fire on Laclede Drive Wednesday morning.
Police told News 12 two people inside the home were taken by medevac to Temple University Hospital. One of those two made it out thanks to a neighbor, who saw the smoke and ran over to help.
"I was leaving to go to work, but I was 5-10 minutes running late, fixing my lunch, and that's what made me stay and when I saw it," said Albert Oliver, a neighbor.
Oliver saw smoke coming out of the windows at the home. He grabbed his jacket and a fire extinguisher and rushed across the street
"When I got there, I saw the door open, and I started hollering his name. No one responded," said Oliver. "The smoke was too thick to where I couldn't breathe."
Oliver called out to his neighbors, making sure they dialed 911. He went back inside the home, when his 89-year-old neighbor emerged from the kitchen. He grabbed him and brought him outside.
Emergency personnel arrived on scene around 8:50 a.m. Police officers tried to help inside the home but were met with the heavy smoke.
A 90-year-old woman was also in the home.
"As a result of those rescue efforts, two officers are at the hospital for smoke inhalation. They both will be OK. The victims from inside the home were airlifted to Temple," said Lt. John Bird, of the Burlington Township Police Department.
The police department gave thanks to the officers and also the neighbor who took action.
"You never think this will happen to you. When you see it ... like wow," said Oliver. "I love him, I love all my neighbors."
The cause of the fire is still unknown. The preliminary investigation is that the fire began in the rear of the home. The condition of the two people taken by medevac is not known.
