Centerville officers rescue 89-year-old from burning home

CENTERVILLE — A woman driving home noticed smoke coming from a house on Dale Ridge Drive early Sunday morning and called 911, a call police and firefighters said helped save a man’s life.

“I am right in front of a house that’s on fire," the woman told 911 dispatchers. “I’m driving home and I seen it on fire. I don’t even know if there are people inside.”

Firefighters and police responded to the house on Dale Ridge around 2:50 a.m.

“The first officers arrived on scene and determined that the 89-year-old resident wasn’t accounted for,” said Centerville police. “Within another minute two more CPD officers were on the scene and they forced entry into the residence.”

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Once they got into the house, police found the man lying on the floor about 10 feet from the door.

“Officers entered and removed the resident from the actively burning house,” police said. “Medics from the Washington Township Fire Department cared for and transported the resident to a local hospital where he is recovering.”

The fire caused significant damage to the kitchen of the home and the victim may have tried to put the fire out himself, said Washington Twp. Deputy Fire Chief Nick Bergman.

“Apparently he had gone in to attempt to extinguish the fire and then decided he couldn’t, tried to exit and was overcome by the smoke," Bergman said. "He was right at that line of being survivable.”

The 89-year-old was taken to a local hospital, where he is recovering.

The rescue comes just a few days after police said another alert neighbor helped save a teen’s life, when she was attacked with a mallet on the bike path at Iron Horse Park.

“This is yet another example of how a good neighbor can make all the difference,” police said. “The men and women of the Centerville Police Department are profoundly grateful for the partnerships that we have with our community.”

Cox Media Group