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“Several units from the east district office responded,” Reynolds said. “Prior to our arrival, an unknown driver from an H.W. Mann and Sons trash truck pulled (three) victims off the front roof of the residence, they jumped on down to the trash truck.”
Meanwhile, on the side of a home, a mother and baby were stuck on an overhanging ledge above a side door. Reynolds said the baby fell from the ledge but he and the two custodians who reported the fire caught the baby.
“The mother then, after the flames started getting close, she jumped and we were able to catch her,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the custodians and the driver are heroes.
Custodian John Ryder wasn’t so sure.
“That’s what they say, but I was just doing my civic duty. Helping somebody who was in need,” he said.
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Ryder said he and a co-worker were outside working when they noticed smoke coming from the other side of the school.
“It didn’t look normal so we headed over there and found out that the house was on fire,” Ryder said.
The pair called 9-1-1 and headed over to the scene where they found people trapped inside. The van was helping three people escape the flames but then it was discovered the mother and baby were stuck on a ledge on the side of the house.
“We went over there and there was a lady and a baby that were stranded on the second floor and couldn’t get out,” he said. “We tried to get a ladder and get them help but instead talked them into jumping off the house.”
The baby was caught after it fell off the ledge, Reynolds said. The mother was convinced to jump after the flames of the fire were getting too close.
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The driver declined an interview with the Springfield News-Sun at the scene.
The fire that took place a day before Thanksgiving caused the home to become a complete loss. The Red Cross was called to the scene.
Reynolds said without the help of the passersby, it cannot be known whether everyone in the house would have gotten out safely. The residents were taken to the hospital but didn’t appear at the scene to have suffered major injuries, Reynolds said.
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