Elgin Snow Plow Driver Saves Residents From Fire
ELGIN (CBS) -- Snow plow drivers already are pretty popular this time of year, but on Friday one driver was being hailed as a hero for helping save a several people from a fire.
As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, he called in an early morning fire in Elgin and then sprang into action to help several elderly people in trouble.
Peter DeVore said he is used to plowing the snow-covered streets of the Edgewater community in Elgin, but nothing prepared him for what happened just after 2 a.m. Friday.
"It was very dark, and then out of nowhere there was just a large orange plume," DeVore said.
That plume was fire engulfing a home in the 2700 block of Cascade Falls Circle. DeVore called 911 as he sped toward the blaze.
When he pulled up, he saw flames shooting out of the garage, but it was what he didn't see that concerned him.
"The thing that struck me right away was that all the homes were still dark and there's nobody out yet," DeVore said.
So he jumped out of his truck, grabbed a shovel and went running up to the house.
"I ran to that side window … the one that's boarded up," DeVore said. "I just used the snow shovel, broke the window and stuck my head in there. Smoke was coming out pretty strong."
Devore called out to the people inside. When they came running out, Devore ran to wake their neighbors.
Judy Wiet was fast asleep when she heard the banging on her door.
"I saw him running up and down, just 'Get out of there. Get out of there,'" Wiet said.
She and others were calling DeVore a hero on Friday for waking many of the elderly residents in the neighborhood.
Even the firefighters were singing his praises.
"He went right up to try to help these people and he did a fantastic job," Elgin Fire Department Capt. Robb Cagonn said.
But Devore was shying away from all the accolades.
"It wasn't really a big deal. You would have done the same thing," DeVore said.
The house was rendered uninhabitable, and damage is estimated at more than $300,000. Damage to neighboring homes is estimated at about $40,000 for one home and about $10,000 for another, the news release said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Two other homes were damaged by the fire, but thanks in large part to Devore's actions, everyone got out of their homes safely.
Even a family dog that was feared lost in the fire turned up safe and sound, walking around the neighborhood.
