CONNELLSVILLE (KDKA) — A Westmoreland County man didn’t think twice before rushing into a burning home to try and help a man inside.

Truck driver Terry Dave, of Mount Pleasant, was headed to a work site in Connellsville around 2:30 a.m. when he noticed smoke coming up from between two homes on East Crawford Avenue near Geibel High School.

Dave immediately slowed down and ran to knock on the front door.

That’s when he realized the home was on fire and that someone inside was yelling for help. Dave kicked down the door and was nearly overcome by thick smoke inside. He says the heat was intense.

“As soon as I knocked door in, there was a lot of smoke, and you couldn’t see five feel in front of you,” he said.

The man living in the home had made his way to the bottom of the steps, but was disoriented. Dave was able to pull him out.

Investigators have not released the victim’s name. He was taken to UPMC Mercy with critical respiratory injuries.

His family has already reached out to Dave and asked to meet him later this week to thank him for his bravery.

“It’s humbling. I don’t want to be a hero. I’d like to think anybody would do it,” added Dave. “I would hope anybody would do it. I would hope they would do that for me someday or for my family.”

Dave also knocked on a neighbor’s door because the houses are so close together.

The fire is believed to have started on the porch and is not suspicious.

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