Neighbor pulls Chesterfield woman to safety as house fire destroys couple’s home

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A Chesterfield couple credits a neighbor with saving a life during a housefire.

Cellphone video captured the intense scene on Tuesday, Jan. 6 as heavy flames and thick smoke billowed from the home on Darleane Street near Alfaree Road. William McCarthy and his wife Glenda were inside the home when the fire erupted.

“I looked in my living room and I saw the fire and then automatically, opened the front door and yelled fire, fire, fire,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said he alerted Glenda who then tried to use an extinguisher to calm the flames.

“She went in the kitchen, and grabbed a fire extinguisher, a real tiny fire extinguisher,” McCarthy said. "I tried to put the fire out, but it blew up," Glenda added.

McCarthy said he was able to escape through a side door. His wife attempted to exit through the front door but said she became trapped on the front porch as the flames intensified.

A neighbor across the street told 8News that they heard McCarthy's calls for help, alerting them to the fire. McCarthy said Lawrence Skipper ran towards the flames, and hoisted Glenda over the porch railing.

“He kept saying ‘just hold on’ and he grabbed me and pulled me because I couldn’t,” Glenda McCarthy said. “I was scared to go over the railing, and if I hadn’t gone over the railing, I wouldn’t be here because the fire came out the door so fast.”

The couple said they escaped with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

“The ceiling.. gone, all the furniture... gone, all the medical equipment that we had in the house... gone,” William McCarthy said.

Firefighters were able to rescue the couple’s dog, but their cat died in the fire. Officials also confirmed that a firefighter who was burned during the response is recovering in the hospital and expected to be okay.

Despite the devastating loss, the McCarthys said they're overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who stepped in to help.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Glenda said. “The whole family was there for us last night, and all of our neighbors were there helping us, giving us blankets and shoes,”

Chesterfield fire officials say while fire extinguishers can be helpful, they should only be used on small fires. Joe Harvey, Deputy Fire Marshal with Chesterfield Fire & EMS says attempting to put out a large fire can lead to a delay in calling 911 and cause the fire to grow before officials arrive.

“What's important for [people] to know is to immediately get out and stay out, early notification of the 911 system and making sure that all their loved ones are accounted for.”

Harvey also stressed the importance of having a home escape plan.

“Know where you're going to go, how you're going to get out, if your pathways are blocked or obstructed by fire or smoke,” he said. “Preplan that ahead of time, have those discussions that way it's something that's in the forefront of your mind.”