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Neighbor rescues Stamford woman from fire

John Firaku was in his backyard when he saw flames coming from the home next door.

Emily Knapton

and

Rose Shannon

Sep 27, 2023, 12:46 PM

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A Stamford man rescued his neighbor from a fire Tuesday morning on Roosevelt Avenue.

John Firaku was in his backyard when he saw flames coming from the home next door.

Firaku also heard the woman, who was stuck on the second floor, screaming.

At first, he tried to use a hose to extinguish the fire, but the fire had grown too big.

Firaku then placed a ladder up to the window, so the woman could climb down.

He says he told her that the smoke was too much and to go down the ladder slowly.

"She got down and hugged me," says Firaku.

Once arrived firefighters arrived, they were able to put the flames out quickly.

"Had he not intervened when he did, the woman may have had a much different outcome," says Stamford Fire Deputy Chief Matt Palmer.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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