A Worcester, Massachusetts, man said he ran into a burning apartment complex three times Monday to check on the safety of 13 people, WHDH reported.
Jose Ramirez is WHDH He said he had just sat down to have brunch with his family when the smoke alarm in his unit went off.
According to WHDH, Ramirez's family and many neighbors were in the home at the time the fire began, and a 5-year-old child was playing video games in the bedroom. (Related: 'I'll be right back': Off-duty firefighter saves family from house fire)
Thirteen people, including five children, escaped from the home on Worth Street in Worcester after the fire broke out on the back porch just as the family was about to eat brunch. 7News
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The flames created streams of smoke that poured out of the home, and Ramirez ran inside the house three times to evacuate all of her family and neighbors as firefighters rushed to the scene, WHDH reported.
“I brought my grandkids, my girlfriend's kids. We rescued them all,” Ramirez told WHDH.
“We received reports of an individual trapped inside the building and heavy fire and smoke coming from the back porch on the second and third floors,” Worcester Fire Department Deputy Chief Adam Roche told WHDH.
Ramirez said what mattered to him was that his family got out safely, WHDH reported.
“This is a humanitarian thing, you know? We have to make sure everybody is outside,” Ramirez told WHDH.
Neighbors told WHDH they were worried about the smoke but are now relieved that everyone is safe.
“When you lose a life, you can't get it back, but it's OK. If everyone else is OK, I'm OK,” Manuela Perez said.
Another neighbor told WHDH that he also rushed to the scene of the fire to make sure the 5-year-old was safe and secure the boy's Xbox and TV.
The Worcester Fire Department said one person was sent to the hospital and nine people were displaced as a result of the fire, which is still under investigation, WHDH reported.
