Two Alabama men are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a neighbor who was trapped in a bedroom in a burning home.
Tyler McLeod and Joshua Donahey, both of Eclectic, Ala., saved the life of a neighbor as fire engulfed the home shortly before 3:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the Eclectic Fire Department.
“Without the actions of these two neighbors, it is almost certain that the occupant would not have escaped the structure and would have succumbed to his injuries,” said Lt. Andrew Wood of the Eclectic Fire Department, in a statement. “The Eclectic Fire Department and the Town of Eclectic would like to thank these citizens for their actions, disregarding their own safety while saving another.
Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, the fire department responded to a call of a house fire in the 11000 block of Georgia Road. Eclectic is located just north of Montgomery.
Witnesses told fire personnel that prior to the fire department’s arrival, McLeod and Donahey were alerted to the fire and rushed to get the homeowner’s dog so that it wasn’t harmed. While they looked for the dog, they heard a loud moaning coming from the bedroom window of the house and realized someone was still inside.
McLeod tried to enter the house but couldn’t because of fire and debris. Then he and Donahey removed the air conditioning window unit in the bedroom window and were able to rescue the occupant through the window.
At that point, according to the fire department, the occupant had suffered potentially life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital, and then by helicopter to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center. The victim is currently in critical condition. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire.
Tallassee, Santuck, Red Hill and Kowaliga Fire Departments also responded to the blaze, assisting the Eclectic Fire Department and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office for a total of 35 firefighters and 13 apparatus on-scene.