Man credited with saving 3 people

Staff report

GIRARD

A Girard man is being credited with saving the lives of three people after a fire forced a mother and her two children to the roof of their home.

The Girard Fire Department responded to a call shortly after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday at 333 Hazel St.

Rebekah Cook, along with her 2- and 4-year-old sons, were awakened by a smoke detector.

The mother tried to head downstairs, but the fire and smoke were too thick to exit the first floor, said fire Chief Ken Bornemiss.

Cook and her children exited off the second-floor roof of their home and started screaming for help.

Craig Smith, of Ward Avenue, heard the screams and brought a ladder to the house — where he helped Cook and her children to safety before firefighters contained the blaze, said Bornemiss.

Bornemiss said the fire occurred because too many cords were plugged into an outlet located in the front family room.

The electrical overload sparked a fire that spread throughout the first floor.

He credits a working smoke detector for saving the lives of the family.

The Victory Christian Center in Lowellville is overseeing a “Cook Fire Fund.” Contributions can be made in person or mailed to 3899 McCartney Road, Lowellville, OH, 44436.