The deadly home explosion in Hamburg is a call three firefighters will never forget. They risked their lives to save a man buried beneath red hot debris. New video shows the heroic rescue of a man trapped in the rubble of a house explosion in Lake View. Three firefighters risked their lives to pull him to safety and today, they’re talking about how it all unfolded.
The massive explosion on West Lane leveled a home Monday night, killing 78-year-old Joene Pease and critically injuring her husband, John.ย Three firefighters, Chad Witkowski, Bruce Oliver, and Jeff Lewis, found John buried in the debris and raced to save him. Witkowski jumped into the basement. Oliver and Lewis helped lift. It was a rescue under intense heat and pressure.
“There was so much debris. You couldn’t figure out where the house was. You just saw fire,” Oliver, Lt. Lake View Fire District said. “The first thing was debris everywhere, fire, people screaming, total chaos,” Witkowski, assistant chief Lakeshore Fire Company said. “Me and Bruce both got him under the arms to pull him up. Chad was down in that basement lifting him up all his strength. The heat was so hot I could feel it burning my ears and neck,” Lewis, firefighter Lake View Fire District said.
John remains in critical condition. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. All three firefighter said they didn’t hesitate because it’s part of their duty, even as volunteers. Each of them hopes this rescue sends a message to others.ย
“I hope people see these kinds of videos and see this stuff and think maybe they have a calling to help the community. Voluntarism and volunteering at the fire department is a dying thing. If we could hopefully get people to come in and help out and be a part of the community. We are all neighbors and we all community members and try to be there for each other,” Lewis said.
