Evansville fire officials are crediting a neighbor for helping rescue four people from a burning West Side home.
The blaze broke out early Tuesday morning at 335 S. Barker.
The neighbor, 47-year-old Thomas Wainwright, tells the Evansville Courier and Press that he was watching TV when he heard cries for help coming from what he first thought was another TV in his home. But when he got up and looked out a window, he saw flames shooting from the roof of the house next door.
Wainwright says he grabbed his phone, called 9-1-1, and ran to the neighboring house, where he saw two adults, a toddler, and a 6-year-old boy on a second-story overhang trying to get down.
Wainwright says he quickly backed his SUV against the burning house, climbed on top of it, and helped the four victims down.
The four were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation. A firefighter also suffered minor hand and leg injuries.
Evansville fire investigator Richard Howard says an overloaded power strip started the blaze. He says an air conditioner was among the items plugged into the strip.