N.M. Firefighters Rescue Unconscious Man From Blaze

SILVER CITY, N.M. -- Firefighters rescued an unconscious man and his dog, pulling them from a burning mobile home on the 1900 block of Lamina Loop on Monday morning.

The Silver City Fire Department was called out to a fire at 1906 Lamina Loop at about 7:20 Monday morning, deputy chief Jeff Fell said. Engine 12 with four firefighters arrived on the scene three minutes after the call, and found heavy smoke and fire coming from a bedroom on the east side of the single wide mobile home, Fell said.

Neighbors alerted them that a father and daughter lived in the home and were believed to be inside of the burning home.

Ladder one arrived on the scene with two firefighters and crews went in the front door and found the man unconscious in the hallway. They rescued him and a dog, from the burning building. The man, who identity was not released, was transported to Gila Regional Medical Center where he is in stable condition. The dog was given oxygen therapy and regained consciousness and was given to family members.

Fire investigators determined that the fire started in the bedroom on the east side of the home, and was caused by an overloaded electrical outlet, Fell said. The fire damage was significant in the east bedroom while the remainder of the residence sustained heat and smoke damage.

This is the first time in about 10 years that fire crews have had to rescue an unconscious person from a fire, Fell said.

Anytime we pull up to a structure fire we control the scene and do a search for possible victims, he said. To be able to do what we did today is the reason why we all became firefighters in the first place. Saving lives and giving people a second chance is what we live for.

Copyright 2012 - Silver City Sun-News, N.M.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service