Neighbors Rescue Elderly Man From Burning Saugus Home

SAUGUS (CBS) – Neighbors rescued an elderly man from a burning home in Saugus on Wednesday.

Flames broke out Wednesday night on Midland Ave.

David Horvath and Larry Applegate saw flames coming from the house where an 88-year-old man who suffers from dementia lives with his son.

"I went over, kicked the door in, and he was laying in the kitchen on his back," said Applegate, who said it took multiple attempts to rescue the man because of the smoke.

"It was bad. Heavy, black smoke. Tough to breathe. We had to back out a couple times. We just said 'We've got to try it again.' The third time's the charm I guess."

The residents found the man covered in ash near the front door and pulled him to safety.

He was taken to an area hospital. The man's condition is not known.

Horvath said the smoke made for a difficult rescue.

"Luckily he was at the front door because the smoke was so thick we couldn't move beyond a foot into the house," he said.

Deputy Fire Chief Donald Shea said it was fortunate the two men sprung into action.

"If they didn't stop and know their elderly neighbor was home, it would've been a disaster," said Shea.