STOCKTON, Calif. — Two off-duty firefighters jumped into action after noticing a plume of smoke coming from a house while on vacation.
Fox40.com reported Stockton Fire Captain Mike Smith was vacationing in Southern California with his family when he noticed the smoke. Smith grabbed his daughter’s boyfriend, Jake Tibbits, who is a volunteer firefighter with the Greenville Fire Protection District (Ill.), and the duo headed to the fire.
“It was just kind of a natural reaction, we thought that we might be there before the fire department gets there and be able to help out,” Capt. Smith said.
Smith and Tibbits were both wearing T-shirts and shorts when they arrived on scene, but did not hesitate to enter the home.
“We almost always go toward it,” Capt. Smith said. “There was a lady sleeping in the back room, carried her out and she mentioned that her dogs were still in the house so Jacob grabbed the three dogs.”
Firefighters arrived shortly after Smith and Tibbits rescued the woman and the dogs. They continued to help the local fire department get the blaze under control.
“I’m not all surprised, especially with Mike Smith. I would have expected nothing less from him,” said Stockton Fire Department Captain John Votaw. “I think everybody, once they take that position, they’re on duty 24 hours a day.”
Smith said he and Tibbits’ reactions are just part of being a firefighter.
“It’s a natural reaction to help those guys out,” Smith said.
No one was injured in the fire.
Off-duty @stocktonfire captain assisted in saving a woman and her dogs during Oxnard fire. Story at 11 @kcranews pic.twitter.com/pdplgHmcKU
— Stephanie Harris (@IAmSteph_1) March 28, 2016
Stockton Firefighters are ready, even off-duty! Stockton Fire Captain Mike Smith and family were in Oxnard recently,...
Posted by Stockton Firefighters Local 456 on Sunday, March 27, 2016