By Christian Jennings - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Albany firefighters rescued a man from his burning apartment early Monday morning. They say the fire started in the kitchen after 32-year-old Mike Thornton left food on a hot stove.
Firefighters say Thornton was lying near a stairwell unconscious after inhaling too much smoke and fumes from the fire. Thankfully they were able to drag him outside so EMS could treat him and take him to the hospital.
It started as a typical call to a structure fire something Albany firefighter Lt. Lorenzo Hall sees everyday. But it quickly turned into a rescue mission when they realized a man was passed out and trapped inside his burning apartment.
"Our thought process is get him out quickly," said Lt. Hall.
So Albany firefighters did just that. "We had to use forceful entry through the door. Right at the stairwell is where they found the victim between the fire and the door," said Lt. Hall.
Firefighters say the man inhaled too much smoke which caused him to pass out.
"Once we dragged him outside EMS was there to take over." Lt. Hall says the man was breathing when he was taken away in an ambulance. A sight that makes this veteran firefighter feel...
"Relieved. Its one of the things that sticks to you," said Hall.
Firefighters say food left on the stove caused the fire. And if it wasn't for an alert neighbor calling 911 right away the fire could have destroyed a lot more than just a kitchen."
Firefighters didn't know the name of the victim Monday morning so we couldn't check on his condition.
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