One man is alive because a stranger decided not to wait for firefighters. The bystander entered a burning home in Kissimmee’s Buena Ventura Lakes community and pulled a bedridden resident to safety as flames tore through the roof.
The fire broke out Wednesday night at a home on Alderwood Drive, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Video from the scene showed the roof engulfed while Osceola County Fire Rescue crews worked to knock down the blaze.
Neighbors said the man had been asleep when the fire started, and firefighters confirmed that a bystander went inside before crews arrived. Jimmie Concepcion told FOX 35 the rescuer was “a hero” who did something many people would have been too frightened to attempt.
The rescued man was taken to a hospital, but officials had not released an update on his condition as of Thursday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, the report said.
Fire Plans Matter Even More For Residents With Mobility Challenges
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that households plan escape routes around each resident’s abilities, keep smoke alarms on every level and identify two ways out of every room. For people who are bedridden or otherwise unable to evacuate independently, that preparation can include assigning helpers, keeping exits clear and practicing the plan before an emergency starts, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
