52° CLOUDY, Off-duty paramedic gets resident safely out of burning SR home
Last Modified: Friday, July 4, 2008 at 11:44 a.m.
A Santa Rosa homeowner was rushed out of his burning house Thursday by an off-duty paramedic who noticed smoke billowing from the residence and forced his way inside.
Eric Freed used a chair from the front porch to push his way past the front door of the Bryden Lane home and found Don Miltimore calling 911 in a back bedroom.
"He didn't know the extent of what was going on," said Freed, an operations manager for REACH Air Medical Services who lives in the neighborhood. "He wanted to turn off the coffee pot, and I told him it is time to get out."
Six fire engines and two ladder trucks responded to the two-alarm fire near Geary Drive just before 9:30 a.m. It was extinguished about 20 minutes later.
Santa Rosa Fire Battalion Chief Andy Pforsich said the cause was undetermined.
The fire resulted in about $85,000 worth of damage to a recreation room and the garage below it, he said.
No one was injured, and no other homes were damaged.
Miltimore and his wife, Ronna, are antique dealers and saw vintage chairs, tables and other items destroyed. A collection of eight-track tapes was among the singed belongings.
"I loved my home," Ronna Miltimore said while being comforted by a friend. "I'm not a happy camper."
Officials closed Bryden Lane for 45 minutes, detouring cars onto Saint Helena Avenue and other side streets.
You can reach Staff Writer Tracie Morales at 521-5274 or tracie.morales@pressdemocrat.com.
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Comments
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July 4, 2008 12:19:13 pm
RE: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080704/NEWS/807040324
Just what was the significance of this fellow being a paramedic and what relevance does it have to the story? If he was a bottle washer, or a manure shoveler would you mention that?
July 4, 2008 4:19:13 pm
Paramedic Freed is my hero.
July 4, 2008 5:25:16 pm
I live near there and am very interested in the cause because my house is just as old as this one and the wiring is an antique and I can't afford to have the house completely rewired, but at least I've gotten rid of the rats in the attic. I wouldn't be surprised if it was either an overloaded circuit or rats gnawing on the wires.
July 4, 2008 9:53:38 pm
curmar1 likes to act like a tough guy
July 4, 2008 10:00:02 pm
AND FOR YOU TO FEEL YOU HAD TO POST THAT MAKES YOU A ...??? YEAH THAT'S RIGHT
July 5, 2008 10:07:29 am
Hope this was on the up and up and NOT contrived by an individual wanting hero-ship! If not, good job! Way it is today.
July 5, 2008 11:15:41 am
Freed is the best!!!! I've known him almost all my life, and he's not a "limp wrist, fireman wanna be". What's you're problem with him, curmar1? He's an all around good person. It's always been his job to save lives, and he loves what he does!!! You go Eric!
July 5, 2008 11:19:28 am
Sorry curmar1. I meant to ask getaclue what your problem is with Freed.
July 6, 2008 6:17:41 am
Great heroism Eric Freed. I know we can count on you to do what is right and provide great care, on or off duty. We are lucky to have you in Sonoma County. THANK YOU.
The few negative comments that you see on this board are written by people who like to argue and have difficulty finding the good in life.
July 6, 2008 9:45:14 pm
FreeBird! Good work...Not many people have the huevos(?) to run into a burning building. My thanks to you and all paramedics and firemen for their service to the community... JCC
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