July 24--Midland Fire Department was called to two blazes that occurred at the same northwest Midland residence Tuesday afternoon, and two teens came to the rescue of the elderly homeowner and her son.
Firefighters and police officers responded to the initial blaze at about 3:11 p.m. in the 4400 block of Norwood Street.
The homeowner's son was starting to cook food on a propane barbecue pit when a fire broke out and traveled along a wooden fence, debris on the ground and a tree in the backyard, said Fire Inspector Alan Kilgore.
He said the fire also spread to the home, melting a window and causing minimal smoke damage inside.
Firefighters left the scene after checking the home for hotspots and remaining flames. But embers blew into grass near the east portion of the home, setting the garage on fire and spreading across the roof, said Sara Higgins, city public information officer.
MFD responded at about 5 p.m. to take control of that blaze, which traveled into the attic and back down into the garage, causing significant damage to a pickup parked inside, she said.
Two neighbors, Christian Lopez, 18, and his brother, Nathan, 15, helped the homeowner leave the house during the initial fire and called 911. The brothers said they also provided ice for the son after the second fire broke out.
The man was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital for burns suffered in the second fire. Two firefighters who became overheated were treated and released.
Higgins said the home's roof is a total loss and the home sustained significant fire, smoke and water damage, but firefighters were able to salvage valuables. The residents of the home likely will be displaced by the fire, she said.
Midland emergency personnel evacuated two homes on either side of the residence in case the fire spread, Higgins said.
Copyright 2013 - Midland Reporter-Telegram, Texas
