HOUSTON – Firefighters rescued a man from a burning home Monday night in southeast Houston.
Crews were called to a house fire on Flamingo Drive near Martin Luther King Boulevard, where they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the home. While battling the fire, firefighters learned an elderly man was trapped inside.
Firefighters immediately went into rescue mode, rushing into the home to search for the victim. They found the man on the floor of his bedroom and were able to pull him out safely.
The man was treated by paramedics at the scene and then transported to a nearby trauma center. His current condition has not been released.
District Chief Jason Wells with the Houston Fire Department said the man attempted to protect himself as the fire spread.
“He was shielding himself… while we were attacking it,” Wells said.
Houston Fire Department investigators are still working to determine what caused the fire. Officials noted temperatures were below freezing at the time, which can increase the risk of house fires, especially those linked to heating sources.
Firefighters are reminding residents to use space heaters carefully, keep them away from anything flammable, and make sure smoke detectors are working properly.