A family was saved from a house fire in Portland after first responders used a certain rescue technique last month, according to WKRN.
Portland Fire Chief Sam Thornton told News 2 that the techniques are dramatic but effective and rarely put into practice outside of training.
On Wednesday, May 31, a house on Demase Street went up in flames around 2:30 p.m., trapping four people and several animals. Authorities responded to the fire after one of the family members called 911 and said they were trapped upstairs due to the fire being located in the hallway.
Two teens were able to escape the house fire after jumping out a second-story window that was about 15 feet high. However, a woman and man remained blocked in on the second-story by the flames in the hallway.
The fire crew eventually used a technique that involved two ladders and multiple firefighters climbing to the second-story window.
Responders were able to rescue the man and woman by cradling them down the ladder.
Most of the animals inside the home were rescued. One cat and some ducks did not survive the fire. The family received medical attention at local hospitals and has since been released.
The Red Cross is currently working to assist the family.
