Two Central Ohio residents were rescued from their burning homes after a two-alarm fire Sunday morning.
Fire crews were dispatched to the house fire at 4th and Locust streets at about 4:30 a.m., NBC 4 's Beth Dal Ponte reported.
Officials said an off-duty Licking County Sheriff's Office sergeant was on his way to an area hospital when he noticed the fire.
"I believe the story I'm getting is he was on his way to the ER. (He) thought his appendix burst," said Capt. Tom O'Brien, of the Newark Fire Department.
The officer, Sgt. Walter Barnes, stopped, alerted residents in the upstairs apartments and called the Newark Fire Department.
"He was trying to kick the door down. Our guys got there and went in kicked the door down and got the members out. He took off and we are assuming he is at the ER," O'Brien said.
When crews arrived, Newark firefighters rescued two people who were trapped on the second level of the building.
Madison Township, Granville and Heath fire crews were called to the scene.
No injuries were reported.
Officials have not identified the cause of the fire.
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