Three Bridgeport residents are safe Wednesday after a neighbor teamed up with two police officers to rescue them from a burning multifamily home.

Officers Ken Fortes and Bobby Jones, both former Bridgeport firefighters, were on an unrelated call when they smelled smoke and went to the house located at the corner of Bradley and Kent streets Tuesday night.

They say they found three senior citizens, a man and two women, upstairs where the fire was burning.

"We've developed instincts to go to where we think people need assistance," Jones says.

The men were able to get the three victims out of the building with the help of a neighbor before the fire got worse.

Two firefighters were treated and released from the hospital for minor injuries.

The residents of the home are staying with family Wednesday night. The cause of the fire is under investigation.