By Tracie Morales
The Press Democrat

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A Santa Rosa homeowner was rushed out of his burning house Thursday by an off-duty paramedic who noticed smoke billowing from the residence and forced his way inside.

Eric Freed used a chair from the front porch to push his way past the front door of the Bryden Lane home and found Don Miltimore calling 911 in a back bedroom.

"He didn't know the extent of what was going on," said Freed, an operations manager for REACH Air Medical Services who lives in the neighborhood. "He wanted to turn off the coffee pot, and I told him it is time to get out."

Full Story: Cause of fire undetermined, officials say