Hamilton's fire chief says a public works employee helped save residents trapped inside a burning east-Hamilton home before firefighters arrived Wednesday morning.
Paul Toth, a senior customer care representative with Hamilton Street Railway, says he was just a bystander, and that anyone could have done what he did.
"I don't think I did anything special," Toth said. "I'm just just doing what I should have done."
Crews from the Hamilton Fire Department were called to a house fire at 12 Cope Ave., near Main Street E., shortly after 7:10 a.m., according to a media release on Wednesday.
Toth said he was waiting to cross Main Street E., when he noticed thick smoke rising behind a convenience store near Cope Avenue. As he went toward the source, a man emerged from the house.
"I asked him if fire had been called," Toth said. "He said, 'No.'"
After Toth called 911, the man told Toth that his wife was still in the inside.
I couldn't see nothing. It was just a wall of black moving at you.- Paul Toth
Toth sprung into action, running into the house.
"I couldn't see nothing. It was just a wall of black moving at you."
Somehow, he was able to locate the woman, who was on the floor with her leg cut open.
"I said, 'OK, roll on your back,' and I grabbed her under the arms and I pulled her a little bit,' Toth said.
After a couple tries, Toth was able to drag the woman about two feet from the front door, with the help of another bystander who had come to help.
Toth said he doesn't know who that bystander was, just that he was in a black pick-up truck.
Bystander's actions 'absolutely' saved victim's life, says fire chief
Cunliffe said at a media briefing Wednesday afternoon that by the time firefighters arrived, the woman was close to the front door.
Asked whether the worker's actions saved the person's life, Cunliffe said: "Absolutely."
"The fact that he opened the door and identified there was somebody inside, very much tried to get the individual out and got them right by the door," he said. "When firefighters went inside, they were right there and able to get them out very quickly."
Crews arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the one-and-a-half-storey home and quickly removed the resident from the main floor. They were then told another person remained upstairs.
Two firefighters made their way to the second floor, located the resident and carried them down the stairs to safety. During the rescue, one firefighter was injured but completed the rescue before receiving medical treatment.
The firefighter was taken to hospital and has since been released, Cunliffe said.
Three residents, including the man who escaped on his own, were transported to Hamilton hospitals. Hamilton Paramedic Service confirmed in an email to CBC Hamilton that a man in his seventies suffered smoke inhalation, a woman in her seventies suffered smoke inhalation and musculoskeletal injuries, and a man in his forties suffered musculoskeletal injuries.
Toth was assessed at the scene for smoke inhalation but was not treated and declined to be taken to hospital.
The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes, according to the department.
'There's a lot of people in this city that will help their neighbour,' said Cunliffe
Cunliffe said the worker put himself at significant risk by entering the home.
It was "absolutely dangerous," he said. "The smoke will get you very, very quickly. The fact is that very quickly that individual could have been another victim."
"I've had some family say, oh I'm glad you did that, but don't ever do it again," Toth said with a laugh.
Cunliffe said the rescue attempt reflects the willingness of Hamilton residents to help one another.
People look after people.- Chief Dave Cunliffe
"There's a lot of people in this city that will help their neighbour or help an individual," Cunliffe said. "People look after people."
"Life goes on, you got to keep helping each other do what we can," Toth said.
Damage to the home is estimated at about $500,000.
The Ontario Fire Marshal's office has assigned three investigators to help determine the origin, cause and circumstances of the fire. Officials said the investigation is in its early stages and there is currently no indication the fire is suspicious.