Campbell, 55, said he had gone out on the step of his apartment for a smoke Wednesday evening and moments later noticed black smoke billowing from the eaves of the apartment straight across from him at 193 Main St.
Almost simultaneously he heard someone shout, “Fire, fire,” and that’s when he leapt into action from his step across a small driveway to his neighbour’s apartment.
Campbell said that when he opened the door he couldn’t see through the smoke. But he heard his wheelchair-bound neighbour, who he believes to be in his 70s, saying he was stuck in the porch.
“Everything was completely black,” Campbell said.
Not able to move the man and his power wheelchair, Campbell reached down and felt one of the smaller wheels in the front was jammed against a corner.
He’s not sure where he mustered the strength, but he lifted the chair, with the man in it, high enough to get the wheel off the floor and straighten it out. Then, with his help, the man was able to get out through the door and out of the home.
“I remember he was completely blackened from head to toe and some of his hair had been singed from the heat. I’m not sure whether or not he had any burns,” Campbell said.
Cpl. Bradley Lucas of the Bay St. George RCMP said in a report the man was taken to Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital by ambulance and treated for smoke inhalation.
“I’m sure he swallowed a lot of smoke,” Campbell said. “I know it was only minutes for me in that porch and I swallowed some, but he was there a lot longer.”
Lucas said the fire, reported at 6:35 p.m., was not deemed suspicious and is being looked into by a fire investigator.
A charred air conditioning unit was on the grass outside the apartment, and while Campbell said he couldn’t say for sure whether the fire started in that unit, he feels it was a big contributor to the smoke.
Fire Chief Wayne Reilly said all 20 firefighters from his roster and six firefighters from Kippens Fire Department were at the scene for about two hours.
Reilly described the apartment from where the man was taken as having a “fair bit of fire damage,” while the adjoining duplex apartment at 195 Main St. had smoke and water damage.
Getting the fire out was important, as it was in a cluster of apartments.
Reilly said having the Kippens Firefighters, who they have a joint response agreement with, was a great help.
Campbell said he felt for his neighbour as he has challenges in getting around, and that he helps out when he can during the winter by shoveling a path to his doorway.
Campbell has lived in his apartment for eight years and said he met his neighbour when he moved in.
Campbell, 55, said he had gone out on the step of his apartment for a smoke Wednesday evening and moments later noticed black smoke billowing from the eaves of the apartment straight across from him at 193 Main St.
Almost simultaneously he heard someone shout, “Fire, fire,” and that’s when he leapt into action from his step across a small driveway to his neighbour’s apartment.
Campbell said that when he opened the door he couldn’t see through the smoke. But he heard his wheelchair-bound neighbour, who he believes to be in his 70s, saying he was stuck in the porch.
“Everything was completely black,” Campbell said.
Not able to move the man and his power wheelchair, Campbell reached down and felt one of the smaller wheels in the front was jammed against a corner.
He’s not sure where he mustered the strength, but he lifted the chair, with the man in it, high enough to get the wheel off the floor and straighten it out. Then, with his help, the man was able to get out through the door and out of the home.
“I remember he was completely blackened from head to toe and some of his hair had been singed from the heat. I’m not sure whether or not he had any burns,” Campbell said.
Cpl. Bradley Lucas of the Bay St. George RCMP said in a report the man was taken to Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital by ambulance and treated for smoke inhalation.
“I’m sure he swallowed a lot of smoke,” Campbell said. “I know it was only minutes for me in that porch and I swallowed some, but he was there a lot longer.”
Lucas said the fire, reported at 6:35 p.m., was not deemed suspicious and is being looked into by a fire investigator.
A charred air conditioning unit was on the grass outside the apartment, and while Campbell said he couldn’t say for sure whether the fire started in that unit, he feels it was a big contributor to the smoke.
Fire Chief Wayne Reilly said all 20 firefighters from his roster and six firefighters from Kippens Fire Department were at the scene for about two hours.
Reilly described the apartment from where the man was taken as having a “fair bit of fire damage,” while the adjoining duplex apartment at 195 Main St. had smoke and water damage.
Getting the fire out was important, as it was in a cluster of apartments.
Reilly said having the Kippens Firefighters, who they have a joint response agreement with, was a great help.
Campbell said he felt for his neighbour as he has challenges in getting around, and that he helps out when he can during the winter by shoveling a path to his doorway.
Campbell has lived in his apartment for eight years and said he met his neighbour when he moved in.
