Neighbor saves elderly couple from Jennings house fire

Jennings County authorities are crediting a neighbor with rescuing two elderly residents from a home fire Monday in Country Squire Lakes.

According to the Scipio-Geneva Township Fire Department, Jennings County deputies and firefighters were called to 1300 block of Magnolia Place for a house fire at about 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. And dispatchers reported that a neighbor had already entered the home and helped an elderly couple to safety.

When rescue workers arrived they found that the home was filled with heavy smoke and flames from a bedroom. Firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to the single bedroom.

Deputies say that the couple credited their neighbor Mike Anderson with entering the burning home several times to get them both to safety.

The residents were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Chief Deputy Cody Low says that Anderson’s initiative helped prevent a tragic outcome and said “Mike is a hero today, and we are thankful for him.”

Also assisting at the scene were firefighters from North Vernon and Spencer Township as well as Jackson County medics.

Photo courtesy of Scipio-Geneva Township Fire Department.