An Orange County man ran into a burning building Monday morning to save his neighbor's life. Albert James lives right across Nashville Street from the small home his neighbor has been renting.
It was a matter of the right time and right place when the modest home starting burning. When it came down to making a life and death choice, entering a burning building wasn't something James thought twice about.
"I saw smoke coming from the house. I seen his truck there, so went and knocked on the door," he said.
The front door was open and James didn't hesitate to wake up the man sleeping in a back room.
"We ran around the house, grabbed the hose to put it out," James said.
But a garden hose wasn't going to be enough to quell the fire that was quickly consuming the interior of the wood-frame house. With the neighbor safely outside, James called 9-1-1.
Orange County Fire Rescue had the blaze knocked down in minutes.
"We got here, started putting water on the fire, got around to the back of the structure, finally made our way in to put the fire out," explained Battalion Chief Gregory Pines, Orange County Fire Rescue.
While a room-by-room search for anyone missing or hurt was standard in these emergencies, James had done the heavy and courageous work. His neighbor spent the morning getting checked over in the hospital for smoke inhalation.
The fire marshal was on the scene briefly, but no police tape was put up to protect the scene.
As for James, he can't say what's next for the man whose life he saved early Monday morning.
"It's in the hands of the Lord, sir," he said.
The support beams on the home were badly charred and weakened and fire authorities think the house may have to be torn down. It's a tough blow for a man who other neighbors said works hard seven days a week detailing and washing cars.
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