By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
EAST ROCKINGHAM — Neighbors praised one of their own early Wednesday afternoon when an East Rockingham man rushed into a burning home and pulled out the cause of the fire.
Volunteer firefighters from East Rockingham and, in automatic mutual aid, Cordova, were dispatched at about 1:39 p.m. to a single-story home in the 200 block of Aleo 1st Avenue. Before they arrived, however, Brian Blanton had already eliminated the primary threat. His actions appeared to spare the home any significant damage.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Brian Blanton tries to catch his breath after running into a burning building Wednesday afternoon in East Rockingham.
Blanton’s girlfriend said the two were returning home from the store when they noticed smoke and flames as they as they drove by. Blanton stopped, exited his vehicle and ran into the home. He pulled a stove that had caught fire out of the house and into the side yard, where the blaze fizzled harmlessly.
East Rockingham firefighters remained on scene to ensure the fire was extinguished and to help ventilate the home. Blanton was bent over in the hot summer sun — temperatures reached the mid-80s — trying to catch his breath. His girlfriend said Blanton suffered from a slight case of smoke inhalation. He was treated on the scene by FirstHealth EMS personnel.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
