{"id":15626,"date":"2018-03-19T15:03:54","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T20:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=15626"},"modified":"2018-03-19T15:03:54","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T20:03:54","slug":"off-duty-firefighter-helps-woman-escape-house-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=15626","title":{"rendered":"Off-Duty Firefighter Helps Woman Escape House Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

(firehouse.com<\/a>) \u2013 Off-duty firefighter Roben Duge smelled the smoke, saw the flames and heard the screams from inside his neighbor\u2019s house \u2014 and thought instantly of his own family.<\/p>\n

Roben Duge, was on his way home at about 6 p.m. when he saw thick black smoke pouring out of the house in Jamaica, Queens, sources said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a hero, I\u2019m just reacting off instinct,\u201d the fearless father said Friday at his Jamaica home, right next door to the fire-damaged house.<\/p>\n

His wife Crystal disagreed: \u201cIt\u2019s just who he is. He\u2019s Superman.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mild-mannered firefighter was headed home from the subway when he noticed the thick black smoke pouring out of his neighbor\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

A child playing downstairs in the basement accidentally started the fire \u2014 and was too frightened to tell his grandmother as the flames spread quickly, sources said.<\/p>\n

Duge, a five-year FDNY veteran, started sprinting toward the two-story residence when he saw the smoke. Visions of his own three kids flashed through his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I heard the kids screaming, it hit home,\u201d Duge told the Daily News. \u201cI thought, \u2018If I can only get in deep enough\u2019 \u2014 and I don\u2019t have any gear, and I don\u2019t know how dangerous it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grandmother, a stroke victim, was barely able to get around on her own once he made his way inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lady could stand up, but she needed assistance walking,\u201d recounted Duge. \u201cThe kids were screaming, scared to death.\u201d<\/p>\n

After getting the three residents out of their house, he assisted them over to his home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gave them water, shelter and blankets for the children, who were cold,\u201d said Duge, sitting inside his home. \u201c(Paramedics) treated them right there on that couch.\u201d<\/p>\n