Neighbors in Middle River, Maryland, rushed to save a mother and her two children from a house fire on Jan. 6, a rescue recorded by a Ring doorbell camera. The Baltimore County Fire Department arrived at 7:12 a.m.; the three victims sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital, while a dog inside the home did not survive. Fire Chief Joseph Dixon praised the neighbors’ quick action and urged residents to ensure working smoke alarms; the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
Heroic Neighbors Rescue Mother and Two Children From Burning Home — Ring Doorbell Catches Dramatic Escape
Baltimore County Fire Department/YoutubeMan helps rescue neighbors from house fire in Maryland
Neighbors in Middle River, Maryland, sprang into action on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 6, to pull a mother and her two children to safety after a residential fire — and the dramatic rescue was captured on a Ring doorbell camera across the street.
The Baltimore County Fire Department (BCFD) responded to the blaze at 7:12 a.m. local time, according to a Baltimore County press release. Firefighters found the woman and two children outside the home; all three sustained minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Fire crews later discovered a dog inside the residence that did not survive.
Video Captures Frantic Rescue
Footage released by BCFD, taken from a Ring camera owned by a neighbor, shows residents running from their homes as orange flames pour from a large bay window and dark smoke billows from an upstairs window. In the video, bystanders can be heard yelling for ladders and help as the rescue unfolds.
One neighbor, Steven Angelini — whose Ring camera captured the scene — caught two children who were dropped from a second-story window. Another resident later used a ladder to help bring the mother down to safety. Angelini told local station WMAR 2 that he acted on instinct and that his priority was getting people out of the house.
"This incident is a powerful reminder of the strength of our communities," said Baltimore County Fire Chief Joseph Dixon. "Before our fire and EMS crews arrived, neighbors acted without hesitation to help a mother and her children escape a dangerous situation. I want to thank these residents for their courage and selflessness and commend our crews for their swift response in extinguishing the fire and providing medical support."
BCFD and county officials used the episode to urge residents to install and regularly test smoke alarms throughout their homes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and county police did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Angelini, who said he tried to fetch a ladder but was hampered by a recent arm injury, described the scene as "haunting" and stressed that he does not consider himself a hero. "I think God puts me in situations to help other people. I did what I would want anyone else to do for my family," he told WMAR 2.
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