PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The lucky timing of a passerby and quick action by firefighters saved the lives of two people after their Darlington Township home caught fire Sunday morning.

Firefighters say that a passerby happened to be near the Darlington Road house when it caught fire and was able to run inside and save a woman in the house.

“We applaud the passerby that helped us get the female individual out,” Darlington Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Crawford said.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they immediately worked on extinguishing the flames, not realizing that anyone was still in the house.

But Crawford says an EMT on the scene saw something, which made him realize there was still a man inside the home.

Michael Drabick was one of the firefighters who braved the heat, thick smoke and flames to find the man, who was lying on the kitchen floor.

“It was very chaotic, I mean we’re trying to look for him real hard you know ounce we got him out, it was a very relieving feeling once we got him out on a stretcher and on the way to the hospital,” Drabick said.

Despite the devastating fire, responders were happy Sunday that both residents were saved. More often than not, by the time firefighters arrive on scene, it’s too late to save the victims.

“Normally this isn’t the outcome that we see with fires like this,” Crawford said. “So yeah, we’re ecstatic.”

Unfortunately, though, firefighters were not able to save a pet inside the house.

Both victims were taken to the hospital, no word yet on their conditions.

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