YORK TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WOIO) - A Medina County woman is lucky to be alive Thursday after she was courageously rescued from her burning home.
The fire broke out around 10:50 a.m. Wednesday at a Branch Road home near the railroad tracks in York Township.
In the dramatic video released to 19 News, Medina County Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from multiple departments are seen rushing to the home.
Smoke pours from the structure, wafting high into the sky, as the Medina County Sheriff and a deputy drive up to the scene.
The woman trapped inside, a 31-year-old, spoke with a dispatcher for several minutes as she awaited rescue.
She was scared — crying out, ‘Oh my God,’ to the dispatcher — but remained calm and crafted a plan so the first responders could find her.
The home’s detached garage was completely engulfed in flames when first responders arrived.
As they work to rescue the woman, the fire spreads to the house.
Erhrt-York Township Fire Chief Jason Creamer tells 19 News, “We believe the fire was kind of affected by the wind. It was a little windy, and we believe that caused the fire to move along much faster than normal.”
The video shows deputies and firefighters finally locating the basement window that was only a foot to 18 inches wide and covered by brush. Firefighters yelled for the homeowner to step back so they could break the window.
The first responders tried to pull the woman up and through the window, but at only 5′2″ she was having a difficult time pulling herself up.
Fire Chief Creamer tells 19 News, “That’s when the Medina Fire Chief Larry Walters made the heroic decision to enter the basement and was able to then boost her out.”
As the woman who was trapped was rescued and pulled to safety, she yelled for firefighters to save her dog.
Unfortunately, four of the family’s five animals perished in the fire.
The woman who was rescued asked that we not use her name, but she was checked out at a local hospital for smoke inhalation and released.
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office said six first responders, four sheriff’s office personnel, and two fire officials, received treatment at local hospitals following the fire.
They were all treated and released.
Approximately a dozen agencies responded to the fire, and the Ohio State Fire Marshal will be handling the investigation.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined, and tips can be left at 800-589-2728.
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