Pennsylvania neighbors rescue woman from burning house

A brave Pennsylvania teenager ran towards fire Monday evening to save his neighbor who was trapped inside a burning home.

Curtis Lahr, 18, is being called a hero after he sprinted barefoot to the woman’s rescue and was able to save her life with the help of other neighbors in Coal Township, Newswatch 16 reported.

“It was just like surreal, like all in the moment, I don’t know; I was just running. I didn’t have any shoes on. I was just trying to help the lady,” Lahr told the local ABC affiliate station.

The quick-thinking teen grabbed a nearby ladder and handed it off to neighbors who placed it against the back of the home on Lott Street where the woman was trapped on the second floor, according to the outlet.

Lahr said he could feel the scorching heat from the flames as he handed off the ladder and saw broken glass “shooting” out of the home.

“The smell — it was hot. I mean, in the moment, like I didn’t even realize how smoky and how hot it was back here, but it was pretty intense when you’re that close to the fire,” he said.

The woman, who has not been identified, was able to climb out of the second-story window and down the ladder to safety.

She was covered in dark ash from the blaze and was rushed to a local hospital, but is expected to be OK, her family told Newswatch.

“She was just all black, and her hair was burnt off,” Lahr said.

The teen’s mom, Maria Lahr, said watching her son run toward the fire was a scary moment but she’s very proud of him.

“I’m glad nobody was hurt. I’m very proud of him, and I hope somebody would do it for us,” she told the local station.

The family of the woman told the news outlet the inferno began as an electrical fire in a downstairs room.

They added that the victim will remain in the hospital for a few more days but is overall healthy. They said they were very grateful for the neighbor’s actions.