A quick-thinking neighbor is being credited with saving a woman’s life after a duplex fire in Naples early Sunday morning.Greater Naples Fire Rescue District crews were called to a structure fire around 1:44 a.m. at a duplex on Estey Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find the living room and kitchen fully involved in flames.Inside the unit, one woman was trapped. The tenant, Justin Mitchell, says he and his two daughters were not home at the time, but his girlfriend was inside when the fire broke out.When Mitchell checked his surveillance cameras during the fire, he says all he could see was smoke.”It’s zero visibility, like you couldn’t see two inches in front of you,” Mitchell said. “So she just took it upon herself to break the window out with her arms and start screaming for help, and sure enough, help came. Thank God.”That help came from their neighbor, Damian Leyva, who says he was playing video games when he heard the woman screaming for help.”She’s like, ‘I don’t know, I can’t breathe,'” Leyva said. “So I just broke through the screen and jumped in. As soon as I got in, I saw all of the smoke just leaking out of the house, and it clicked with me, like, the place is on fire.”Leyva says he immediately helped the woman escape.”She’s got to get out as soon as possible,” Leyva said. “I grabbed her under her arms, lifted her up, got her on my shoulder and carried her out. And by the time I had gotten her out, two police officers had already arrived.”Fire officials say the woman’s only way out was through a bedroom window because the other exits were blocked by flames. However, the window had been screwed shut and was also partially blocked by an AC unit, leaving only a small opening for escape.Mitchell says all of the jalousie-style windows in the unit, common in older Florida homes for airflow, were screwed shut — not by him.Fire officials say some people secure these types of windows for safety reasons, but doing so creates a major fire hazard.”Huge fire hazard. Cannot have that,” said Tiffany Wood with Greater Naples Fire Rescue. “If you see those types of screws in those windows on a home that you’re renting, please talk to your landlord. Take them out yourself.”Mitchell says his girlfriend only survived because their neighbor stepped in.”My girlfriend had already got out only because of our neighbor who lives right behind us, thank God,” Mitchell said. “If he wasn’t there, she wouldn’t be here today.”The woman was treated for smoke inhalation and received a few stitches, but is expected to be OK. Their dog and cat also made it out safely.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
A quick-thinking neighbor is being credited with saving a woman’s life after a duplex fire in Naples early Sunday morning.
Greater Naples Fire Rescue District crews were called to a structure fire around 1:44 a.m. at a duplex on Estey Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find the living room and kitchen fully involved in flames.
Inside the unit, one woman was trapped. The tenant, Justin Mitchell, says he and his two daughters were not home at the time, but his girlfriend was inside when the fire broke out.
When Mitchell checked his surveillance cameras during the fire, he says all he could see was smoke.
“It’s zero visibility, like you couldn’t see two inches in front of you,” Mitchell said. “So she just took it upon herself to break the window out with her arms and start screaming for help, and sure enough, help came. Thank God.”
That help came from their neighbor, Damian Leyva, who says he was playing video games when he heard the woman screaming for help.
“She’s like, ‘I don’t know, I can’t breathe,'” Leyva said. “So I just broke through the screen and jumped in. As soon as I got in, I saw all of the smoke just leaking out of the house, and it clicked with me, like, the place is on fire.”
Leyva says he immediately helped the woman escape.
“She’s got to get out as soon as possible,” Leyva said. “I grabbed her under her arms, lifted her up, got her on my shoulder and carried her out. And by the time I had gotten her out, two police officers had already arrived.”
Fire officials say the woman’s only way out was through a bedroom window because the other exits were blocked by flames. However, the window had been screwed shut and was also partially blocked by an AC unit, leaving only a small opening for escape.
Mitchell says all of the jalousie-style windows in the unit, common in older Florida homes for airflow, were screwed shut — not by him.
Fire officials say some people secure these types of windows for safety reasons, but doing so creates a major fire hazard.
“Huge fire hazard. Cannot have that,” said Tiffany Wood with Greater Naples Fire Rescue. “If you see those types of screws in those windows on a home that you’re renting, please talk to your landlord. Take them out yourself.”
Mitchell says his girlfriend only survived because their neighbor stepped in.
“My girlfriend had already got out only because of our neighbor who lives right behind us, thank God,” Mitchell said. “If he wasn’t there, she wouldn’t be here today.”
The woman was treated for smoke inhalation and received a few stitches, but is expected to be OK. Their dog and cat also made it out safely.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
