Off-duty firefighter saves woman from house fire

Derek Horneman, who was visiting his parents down the street, said he was walking his dog when he smelled smoke

January 05, 2016 10:23 AM

The Valley News-Dispatch

NATRONA HEIGHTS, Pa. — Nestled deep inside a neighbor’s bright green Ninja Turtles blanket, Harrison fire victim Amy Thiry said she was thankful.

The woman’s house at 1119 Dallas Ave. was severely damaged by fire of unknown origin Monday afternoon.

Firefighters used water and special foam to quench the blaze and snuff out dark black smoke and flames in minutes. No one was hurt.

But the 2 p.m. blaze might have ended differently.

“She didn’t even know her house was on fire,” said neighbor Derek Horneman.

Horneman, who is a volunteer firefighter, said he smelled smoke before looking outside.

He saw thick black smoke coming from the woman’s house and knew he needed to see if anyone was home.

He called Allegheny County 911, where he also is a dispatcher, and was able to get in through the front door before emergency crews arrived.

“I found her in the basement,” Horneman said.

There wasn’t time to get Thiry’s coat or much else as the quick-moving fire engulfed the small house.

Thiry was shivering in the winter cold, so neighbor Christy Shaffer grabbed a blanket.

Thiry was sitting in one of Shaffer’s porch chairs when she thanked people and said she would turn to family and friends for help in recovering from the fire.

At about the same time, Harrison police and volunteers got her two small dogs out and helped next door neighbors Syl and Joan Zembrzuski.

Harrison Water Authority employees Gary Hines and Marty Kolek had just stopped at Dearborn Street, three doors down from Thiry’s house, when they smelled smoke, saw the blaze and Horneman on the Thiry’s porch.

“They helped my wife to get out,” said Syl Zembrzuski, a retired Valley News Dispatch photographer.

“I was worried. At first I didn’t know where my husband was,” Joan Zembrzuski said.

“I was out back taking photos,” he said with a smile. “At first I thought that the wind had changed and it would take our house, but it damaged some siding anyhow,” he said.

He was impressed with how fast the fire was put out after firefighters from about four companies arrived.

“That was the foam from Highland Hose,” said Citizens Hose Assistant Chief Matt Barch.

The fire was out in about three minutes, according to Barch.

“We’re not sure what caused it. We called the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office,” Barch said.