PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio — A Parma Heights man is safe after three FirstEnergy employees rescued him from his burning home Thursday morning.
“If those linemen weren't there, it's very possible that he might not have made it,” Parma Heights Fire Chief Matt Bernard tells 3News.
Chief Bernard says the men, identified as Rob Cecil, Sean Groom, and Brian Green, were on hazard patrol when they spotted smoke coming from a home on Manorford Drive.
“One out of the three called 911, while the other two heard somebody yelling for help inside the house,” Bernard explained. “They then proceeded to grab a baseball bat and break out the rear windows of the house to pull the resident out of the house.”
Fire crews later rescued an unconscious dog named Tank from the home.
“We gave him immediate medical attention and started giving him some water. Within 15 minutes he was up walking around,” Bernard added. “At that time, we were also assisting the resident that was pulled out of the back windows.”
According to Bernard, crews gave the man oxygen, but he did not initially go the hospital on the day of the fire. He was expected to go at a later time. The Red Cross has stepped in to provide housing.
Bernard says the home did not have working smoke detectors, even though it did have power.
“The fire was not related to any kind of power lines being down or anything like that,” Bernard adds.
Rescue crews believe the fire started in the kitchen, but the Parma Heights Fire Department is investigating the official cause.
A spokesperson for FirstEnergy says Cecil, Groom, and Green were unavailable to speak about the rescue because “they are fully focused on storm restoration right now.”
However, FirstEnergy Ohio President Torrence Hinton said their actions are “a prime example of our employees not only out here doing great work to restore service, but also thinking about the members or our community willing to save a life.”
Parma Heights Mayor Marie Gallo says the trio should be recognized for their efforts.
“They are heroes to begin with as linemen restoring power, but these three gentlemen really went above and beyond, and we are grateful for their service to the city of Parma Heights.”