Off-duty Ashland, MA, Firefighter Helps Rescue Two from Burning Vehicle

An off-duty Ashland firefighter was among Good Samaritans who worked as a team to save two people from a burning vehicle after a crash on I-495 in Plainville.

Firefighter David Iarussi told WBZ he knew the occupants of the electric vehicle had to be extricated quickly.

"I know how fast these cars can burn up. So, my mindset was, I've got to get them out." 

He usually carries various tools in his vehicle that would have come in handy Sunday afternoon. But he was in his wife's vehicle sans the equipment.

As he and others were using a variety of items in an attempt to break glass, a fire erupted underneath. Luckily, someone had an extinguisher.

"I know for a fact if those people didn't keep putting extinguishment and all that powder and everything else that they were using on the fire, that car would have been completely gone. And we probably would have lost a couple of people," Iarussi said, adding that it's the call he'll never forget.

"I would do it again in one second, but I want to be a little more prepared with what I said about the little saw and some tools that I'm going to put in my wife's car. I feel great, and I hope someday I'll hear that the two victims are doing well."

Iarussi, whose 30-year fire service career is nearing the end,  said it's one of those calls he won't forget.