Caught on video: Dad rescued from burning Central Fresno home
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A woman holding a baby screamed for someone to save her dad from a burning home in Central Fresno, and those pleas were answered.
The fire broke out just before 9 a.m. Saturday on Dakota near Cedar. Beth Lederach called 911 then caught the flames and the dramatic rescue on cellphone video.
The video shows the flames and smoke pouring out of the duplex, and then suddenly a man comes running toward the street carrying the woman's father over his shoulder. The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, but he is expected to be OK.
RAW VIDEO: Dad rescued from burning home in Fresno
Firefighters say the flames damaged both units, leaving six people displaced. They believe the residents tried to put out the fire themselves using hoses before calling for help.
"Fire doubles every minute, so we need to make sure we get on the road responding to the fire because often most fires a homeowner can't put out with a garden hose or an extinguisher, although many fires do get put out that way, but we always want to be prepared for the worst case scenario. This wasn't the worst case, but it was pretty bad," said Capt. Kirk Wanless of the Fresno Fire Department.
Fire officials say the flames started in a garage area of the duplex, but the cause is still under investigation.
