Neighbor Rescues Family From Fire; Parents Arrested
FOLSOM, Calif. (CBS13) -- Authorities hailed a neighbor who rushed into a burning home Saturday morning, saying his actions were crucial to saving the lives of two young children.
The Folsom Fire Department said the blaze broke out on the 700 block of Oakdale Street just before 8:00 a.m., completely engulfing the home before fire crews could arrive on scene.
Neighbor Mark Carlisle saw smoke pouring out of the structure and rushed to help.
"I ran over, got to the bottom of the step, saw the father come staggering out the door," Mark said. "I was screaming, 'Where is the babies?'"
The two parents were unable to respond to his questions, so Mark said he charged into the home and scrambled around on his hands and knees, searching for the two young kids.
Mark said his hand grabbed a young boy's hair, and he pulled the child from the structure. When he saw the children's parents still standing outside the home, he went back inside, finally locating the family's young female toddler.
"I grabbed hold of her foot and took her out also," Mark said.
All four family members and Mark were treated for smoke inhalation. The two parents, identified as Matthew Muir and Britney Faulkner, were arrested for child endangerment and arson.
The parents did not necessarily set the fire on purpose, but Muir was allegedly under the influence of a controlled substance and the actions of the parents led to the blaze, authorities said.
The children are in the custody of Child Protective Services.
