While on his way home from work Tuesday morning, Ronta Harris said he saw heavy smoke billowing out of a house at 112 Grace St. in Danville.
He stopped his truck in the middle of the road. When he realized the house was on fire, he put it into reverse to get closer.
Harris and his passenger, Roderick James, got out of the vehicle to help the occupants of the house that was severely damaged by fire Tuesday morning.
The blaze caused heavy damage to the home and also sent one firefighter to the hospital.
“There was a lot of smoke,” said Harris, whose white shirt was still spotted with ashes from the fire.
Two occupants and a dog were in the home, but they all made it out without injury. A firefighter at the scene fell through the floor in a burned part of the house, according to Danville Assistant Fire Chief Steve Dishman.
He was transported to Danville Regional Medical Center with a shoulder injury but was later released.
One of the home’s occupants, Joseph Wilson, said he was in his bedroom when he heard a loud pop from the other room. Then he said he saw a lot of smoke and a fire in the kitchen. He first tried to put out the fire by throwing buckets of water on it before 911 was called. His mother, who is wheelchair-bound, was also in the house.
When Wilson realized he could not put the fire out, he went to help his mother and then try to find their dog.
Harris and James came to the house while Wilson was trying to put the fire out. They were able to help Wilson get the woman out, although they said they did not know the occupants.
Harris said they saw the fire and just wanted to make sure everyone inside was safe.
The fire department was called around 8 a.m. and it took about 15 minutes to put out the fire, according to a news release.
“A downed power line from the house hampered firefighters until personnel from Danville Power and Light were able to [disconnect] the service from the pole,” the release stated.
The fire was caused by discarded smoking materials, according to the release.
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