Heroes of the Week: Bystanders rescue resident from burning home's rooftop

Today's heroes are the kind of neighbors you want to have. These unnamed people saw a house on fire in their neighborhood, saw a resident climb on the house's roof and quickly brought over a ladder to get the person to safety. Here's the story from Portland, Maine.

(Photo: Some quick thinking bystanders were able to help a resident from the roof of a home that was on fire in Portland. (Portland Fire Department)) 

Quick thinking bystanders rescue Portland resident from burning home's rooftop 

 by Brandon Whitlock, WGME-TV,  December 31st, 2023

PORTLAND (WGME) - Some quick-thinking bystanders were able to help a resident from the roof of a home that was on fire in Portland.

The Portland Fire Department said they responded to a report of smoke in a building on Oxford Street at 2:32 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.

While en route to the fire, a caller stated they could see smoke and flames, a window breaking out, and a person on the roof of the building.

The fire department says the occupant of the front 2nd-floor apartment was able to escape out a window onto the porch roof. Some bystanders outside grabbed a nearby ladder and were able to get the resident off the roof before the fire department arrived.

The fire was able to be put out in about five minutes.

One person was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation at this time.