Woman helps fire victim escape burning house, both suffer smoke inhalation

Staff report

WARREN

Steven Richardson of 1817 Sweetbrier St. SW suffered smoke inhalation and was flown by helicopter from Warren to another hospital after a kitchen fire at his house Saturday afternoon.

Richardson broke a window in an attempt to get out of the house. He made it part way out of a window, but a woman living on Southwest Boulevard nearby helped him the rest of the way and suffered smoke inhalation herself.

Richardson suffered small cuts, apparently from breaking the window, Warren Fire Chief Ken Nussle said.

The 4:57 p.m. fire appears to have started because of a pot left on the stove, but it produced heavy smoke that filled the small, ranch-style home, Nussle said.

The woman was taken by ambulance to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital for treatment. Firefighters rescued Richardson’s dog from the home and tried to resucitate it, but it did not survive, Nussle said.

It was a moderate fire, but the home suffered fire and heat damage throughout, Nussle said, speculating that Richardson may have fallen asleep with food cooking on the stove.

The home had a smoke detector, but it did not sound, Nussle. added.