First responders, neighbors help rescue 3 from Nyack home engulfed in flames
NYACK, New York (WABC) -- First responders rescued three people who were trapped in a burning house early Sunday in Nyack.
The fire broke out around 3:15 a.m. on Summit Street in the Rockland County village.
The Monsey Scoop reported from the scene of the fire overnight.
Antaeya Foster tried to get her neighbors to come out of the home. She had already called 911 , but knew the flames shooting out of the second-floor window were going to spread.
Flames eventually did take over much of the home and spread to what appeared to be an attic space.
"You could feel the heat from the fire just standing on this side of the road," Foster said.
Before firefighters got there, Foster says she could not believe what she saw.
"I saw this man sitting on the roof," she said.
The man was shirtless and said 'the old lady is inside, downstairs.'
"I didn't know what he was talking about, then the window blew out, glass shattered kind of sound. The fire started to engulf the roof," Foster added.
The man then held onto the gutter right where it is bent, and let go. Once on the ground it seems he ran back into the house to help the owner -- an elderly lady wearing a white robe. Then, the pair got trapped and they were screaming for help.
Officials say officers from the Orangetown Police Department heard the screams, rushed into the burning home, and then got them out.
However, the rescue was not yet over -- a second man was still inside. Two officers crawled up the stairs and found that man unresponsive on the second floor and also got him out. The man was taken to Westchester Medical Center for treatment, while the other two injured were transported to Nyack Hospital. Three Orangetown Police officers were also taken to Nyack Hospital. Their conditions are unknown.
"We've had a few fires in the last 10 years, but this one was crazy and right in front of my house," said Patrick Gianni.
Neighbors say the owner of the home has lived there for some time and rents out rooms.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The American Red Cross said that it will be helping the displaced residents.
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