Neighbors Rescue Elderly N.Y. Woman From House Fire; Former Firefighter Assists In Efforts

Three neighbors rescued an elderly woman from her burning home Friday.

"These guys are the heroes," said Fire Chief Thomas Garrett. "These guys dragged the woman out of there. They did a nice job."

Retired firefighter Rick Wood, former City Clerk Larry Quinn and U.S. Army employee Eric Adams pulled Rose Shunk out of her house at 52 Point View Drive as thick smoke poured out the door.

"My wife heard somebody yelling. We looked out and saw smoke coming out of Rose's house," Quinn said. "The smoke was pouring out of the roof, the windows. You couldn't even see inside."

Quinn ran across the street. Wood who had arrived seconds, found Shunk lying inside the door of her home.

"We were sitting on the porch, my wife and I. We noticed smoke coming out of the house next door," Wood said. Telling his wife to call 911, Wood ran next door to check on his neighbor.

"I opened the front door. The smoke billowed out," he said. "She was right inside the front door."

He asked Quinn to help carry her out. Adams, who was just returning to the neighborhood, pulled over his vehicle, got out and ran up to help.

The three men carried the stricken woman to the lawn, just as firefighters arrived.

"One of the firemen got an oxygen mask on her," Quinn said. "When they took her away in the ambulance, she was sitting up."

Shunk was taken to St. Peter's Hospital, where she was listed in fair condition Friday evening.

The fire started around 4:15 p.m., and firefighters arrived within four minutes. Garrett said it began in the kitchen. While the cause was unknown, the chief said it did not appear suspicious.

Inside the home, the refrigerator's doors had burned away, a monitor on the desk was so badly melted it was hard to tell whether it had belonged to a computer or a television, and the remains of an air conditioner hung out the window. Heat still radiated from the walls, and the carpet was spongy with water used to snuff the blaze.

Garrett said the home, though badly damaged, could be renovated and restored.

Adams said he didn't think his actions has been heroic. His only thoughts were "get in, get it done and get out."

"You just had to do it," Wood agreed. "Good thing I have good neighbors, and they all pitched in."

An off-duty firefighter, Wayne Rado, arrived and entered the burning home to see if anyone else was inside. Shunk lived with a nurse, who was not home at the time, neighbors said. "He searched the building, too, with no gear and no line," Garrett said.

Wood, who retired in 1998 after 26 years as a firefighter, said he never expected to be called back to duty in his own neighborhood.

"You just never expect to have to do this next door," he said.

"I'm just glad she's all right," Adams said.