Carver firefighters use ladder to save woman trapped in burning home during heroic rescue

CARVER, Mass. — Carver firefighters arrived to a burning home to find a woman on the second floor screaming for help Sunday night.

Five firefighters who live nearby rushed to the home on Great Meadow Drive around 8:30 p.m. Heavy fire could be seen through the first floor window directly below where the woman was trapped.

A neighbor had put a ladder up the woman’s window to try and rescue her before firefighters arrived.

Carver police officers used a garden house and fire extinguisher to hold the flames back while firefighters attempted to rescue the woman. On their second attempt, rescuers were able to forcibly remove the woman, carrying her head first down the ladder.

As the rescue was being completed, additional firefighters battled the flames on the first floor.

The firefighters also rescued a cat from the second floor, giving the pet water and oxygen via a PET oxygen mask they carry in their fire trucks.

A dog was also rescued in the beginning stages of the fire.

Carver EMS treated the woman and one of the civilians who rescued her before transporting both to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth. Carver Fire Chief Craig Weston said both are doing well as of Monday evening.

Overall 54 Carver firefighters battled the fire, along with firefighters and a tanker truck from Plympton.

Carver Fire and the state fire marshal’s office are investigating the cause of the fire.

“As the Fire Chief, I am extremely proud of Carver’s Public Safety Departments,” Weston said. “This is another example of how combining progressive training and modern apparatus, with strong leadership and dedicated responders, Carver Public Safety Departments are always ready to answer the call.”

Photos of the fire were taken by the Carver Fire Department Photo Team, Jonathan Sjostedt and Ava Boyle

Cox Media Group