By Ken Byron
Hartford Courant

PLAINVILLE, Conn. — Thomas Lee was a firefighter long enough to know about the importance of having backup when tackling a burning building.

But when he saw his elderly neighbor struggling to get his wife out of their burning home on Birch Tree Road last month, he forgot all about that and ran to the house.

Lee told his neighbor, Bob Noack, to get to safety while he rescued Noack's wife. Once inside the house, Lee had to crawl through the burning house on his belly because the smoke was so thick, feeling his way with his hands until he found Ella Noack on the floor.

All three got out without serious injuries, although Ella Noack is still recovering in a local nursing home. On Monday, Lee was honored by the town council and the fire department for his heroism in the Nov. 28 fire.

"There are heroes and hero wannabes. He's a hero," Bob Noack said of Lee.

Lee, 25, said he was a volunteer firefighter for about a year. When he came home early in the morning on Nov. 28, he saw black smoke coming from the Noacks' house and Bob Noack struggling to open the door. Lee said he gave little thought to his own safety as he ran inside the house.

Noack said he desperately needed help by the time Lee showed up. He had almost gotten his wife to safety when he was finally overcome by the smoke as he propped open a door. Noack said he did not notice Lee coming until Lee grabbed him by the shoulder and told him to get outside while he went in.

"You're not supposed to go into a burning building without backup, but Tom didn't hesitate," Noack said.

Town firefighters showed up soon after the three got out, and on Monday, Chief Raymond Swanson credited Lee for his efforts.

"A definition of heroism is ordinary people doing an extraordinary job in a time of need," Swanson said.

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