An off-duty police officer rescued 3 people from a North Reading house fire
"He truly did a great job and potentially saved some lives."
An off-duty police officer saved three people from a North Reading house fire while he was heading home from work early Tuesday morning.
The blaze caught the officer’s attention, but apparently those inside the single-family, Lowell Road home had not yet realized the house was on fire, NBC 10 Boston reports.
The officer, who was not identified, sprung into action by kicking open the front door while firefighters were on the way to the scene, according to the news station.
North Reading Fire Chief Donald Stats told WHDH the officer spotted the fire around 1 a.m.
Two people inside the house were able to evacuate through the front door, NBC 10 Boston reports. The officer eventually located a third occupant and helped the person escape the blaze through a back window.
“He truly did a great job and potentially saved some lives,” Stats told the news station.
An off duty police officer jumps into action after spotting a fire on his way home. Helped get 3 people out of a burning home. The Fire Chief says his actions likely saved lives. Hear what happened on @NBC10Boston next. @NorthReadingPD @NRFire pic.twitter.com/OC6xy7OuFk
— Katelyn Flint (@KFlintNBCBoston) December 8, 2020
The officer also told a neighbor, Grace Washburn, to leave her home after she went to check on him, she told the outlet.
“I grabbed the animals, ran out of the house and called the police and they said they’re already on their way,” Washburn said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation later Tuesday morning, according to WHDH.
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