Off-duty paramedic, neighbor help save family from massive blaze
By Tim Pulliam
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Dramatic video shows the moment a neighbor and an off-duty paramedic saved a little girl from a raging fire in Larchmont. Meanwhile, burning embers rained down all around them.
Families survived hot flames burning dangerously close to their homes over Thanksgiving weekend. The inferno gave them another reason to count their blessings.
The stunning blaze was captured on Citizen App video in Larchmont. It happened on Thanksgiving, just before midnight, when trees near a two-story duplex caught fire.
“I was upstairs, and I heard what sounded like a snowstorm, like snow hitting the window. I looked up, and it was ash. It was all sort of bright red outside,” neighbor Ari Vokydis said. “I told my wife to call 911. I woke up the kids. I came down here and banged on the door to wake my neighbors up. Their kid was the first one to wake up.”
That kid is 7-year-old Savannah Vasquez, who was actually awake, waiting for her mother to come home, but was greeted by her neighbor and the blaze.
“At first I thought it was just my imagination, but then it got warm, too,” Savannah said. “I just standed there for like 10 seconds. I didn’t know what to do.”
Then, Savannah said she remembered her school’s fire safety messages.
“Don’t grab anything, leave the house, leave wherever you are,” she recalled. “I told my grandma that there was fire, and she went to go alert everybody at the house.”
Firefighters arrived to the blaze on West Oakwood Avenue, including Richard, an off-duty paramedic who saw the fiery flash from his home.
“That guy just came out of nowhere, and then I was there, and then he helped me get out of the fire,” the 7-year-old said.
Video shows the dramatic moment Richard ran with Savannah in his arms away from danger as ash and embers fell around them.
Firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames.
In daylight, you can see the fire’s devastation. The family’s vehicle was destroyed, but firefighters have not condemned their property.
The family says they’re grateful to still be alive and able to still live in the home.
“Grandma’s car is now like a marshmallow,” Savannah said.
Savannah has minor burns and blisters on her feet from the hot debris.
She saved lives.
“It’s really kind, because that’s what kind people do,” Savannah said.
Firefighters say it’s still not clear what caused the fire.
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