A resident rescued a disabled 62-year-old man Thursday from the second floor of a burning row house on Miltimore Street, fire officials said.
Robert Turner said he was cooking in the kitchen of the row house at 454 Miltimore about 4 p.m. when he smelled smoke coming from the basement.
Two women and a 4-year-old boy were in the living room watching television as smoke quickly began to fill the 2 1/2 story home.
Turner said he yelled that there was a fire in the basement and told everyone to get out. He then ran upstairs to get 62-year-old Eduardo Martinez, who is disabled and has been confined to his bed for years, family members said.
"I just grabbed him and pulled him down the steps," Turner said. "He's an old guy and I didn't want him to die for no reason."
First Deputy Fire Chief William Stoudt Jr. said there was heavy smoke and fire in the basement when firefighters responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire at the residence.
"The initial report was there might be a person in the basement," Stoudt said. "There was fire in the basement. Rob had gotten the man out. There was extension (of the fire) to the first floor, but we had it knocked down in about 10 minutes."
Firefighters doing a quick sweep of the residence reported that no one was inside after they arrived.
Michelle L. Miller was one of the women watching television when Turner discovered the fire.
"As soon as the (front) door opened, the dog ran out and I ran out and she followed," Miller said, referring to her sister, Holly Miller.
Holly took her 4-year-old son, Zakaree, with her.
"It was scary going from playing with my nephew to fire and smoke," Michelle Miller said. "My first thought was the kid, and my second thought was the handicapped man on the second floor."
Martinez is the father of another resident, Felix Sanchez, who also escaped the fire.
The American Red Cross, Berks County Chapter, is assisting the residents.
The residents said they believe the fire started in the furnace. Stoudt estimated damage at $10,000.
Copyright 2012 - Reading Eagle, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
