Caretaker Braves Fire To Save Elderly Woman
WESTCHESTER (CBS4) - A 73-year-old caretaker was applauded for her heroic efforts after a yard in Westchester went up in flames.
Just after 10 a.m. Wednesday, an explosion went off behind a home in the 8900 block of SW 19th Street. Neighbor Cindy Sanabria knew something was wrong when she heard the loud noise.
"I opened the window a little bit and I saw the backyard filled with black smoke," said Sanabria. "I just screamed to my dad… there is a fire!"
When Miami-Dade Firefighters arrived at the home, they found live power lines draped across the yard.
"They were live," said Fire Chief Tony Garcia. "With the amount of smoke and fire in the surrounding residences it is always a hazard for us, you know, stepping on it (the power line) or coming in direct contact with it."
Power for the entire block had to be cut off before firefighters could extinguish the flames.
Norma Gutierrez, a caretaker that lived in the home next door, braved the blaze to save her 95-year-old neighbor.
After she rescued the woman, Gutierrez re-entered the home and wheeled out a 6 foot by 5 foot birdcage. But twice wasn't enough, she entered a third time to rescue another bird, CBS4's David Sutta reported.
"When you start something like this you have to hurry up," Gutierrez said. "Don't get nervous." When asked if she considered her actions to be heroic, Gutierrez answered, "Nah. I'm no hero. I just did what I had to do."
The firefighters efforts paid off for the home's owner Amado Gonzalez. Nobody was hurt in the blaze and the damages to Gonzalez's home are limited to mostly the exterior of the home.
"Thank God. Hallelujah," said Gonzalez. "It could be worse but the fire department got here quickly."
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
