HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – It was an act of a “good Samaritan” that helped two residents escape a house fire in Holland on Thursday morning.
That was the term Holland Public Safety Captain of Fire Services Chris Tinney used after he and other firefighters responded to a blaze in the 200 block of West 9th Street. When they arrived at the residence shortly before 10 AM, they found flames coming from a first-floor living room.
“An open phone from the person reporting the fire inside the residence created concern that there may be trapped occupants,” Tinney said in a department statement. “As firefighters were preparing to attack the fire, it was learned that two occupants were assisted to safety and everyone was accounted for. At this time dog left behind inside the residence was found standing at an open window of the second floor and a firefighter quickly placed a ladder and rescued the dog. Five cats that were inside the residence at the time of the fire were rescued and removed.”
It took crews about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Initial findings from Holland Fire Marshal Bret Groendyke indicated that the cause of the fire was unintentional, but a final determination wasn’t immediately made. “Damage was minimized on the second floor because of a door to the stairs being closed,” Tinney added. “This closed door most likely protected the occupants on the second floor as well.”
There were no reports of any injuries suffered by first responders or of any residents, human and animal. The incident remains under investigation.
As for that “Good Samaritan;” that person assisted two second floor occupants off of a portion of the roof that they had escaped through a window due to smoke and flames cutting off a first-floor escape. That rescuer left the scene, and Tinney is asking anyone who may know who that person is to contact HPS Fire Services (616-355-1020).
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