Detroit Firefighter Performs Rescue on Way to Training

DETROIT (WJBK) - Early Thursday morning, it's believed someone set a Detroit house on fire, burning up everything the residents owned. They have no insurance and now nowhere to live, but it could have been worse.

"She said, 'We're going to die! We're going to die!' I'm like, 'We're not going to die today,'" one of the victim's told FOX 2's Taryn Asher.

He was one of three people inside at the time. The fire started on the porch, trapping them inside of a house with bars on every window except the basement.

That man inside was able to grab a pipe and break several glass blocks out of a basement window. At that exact moment, he saw a person running down the street.

Don Adams' first instinct was to get everyone out of the burning house.

The Army sergeant, who just returned from active duty, happens to also be a Detroit firefighter. He was on his way to the academy for a refresher course when he spotted the smoke and flames on Kerchival in his own personal car with no protective gear.

"This guy (came) running up, and I'm thinking, 'Where (did) he come from?'" said the victim. "He pulled them out and then he grabbed me because I was trying to get out."

Adams was able to pull that man, his girlfriend and her niece to safety just as the fire crews started to arrive.

Captain Orlando Gregory, who trained Adams, couldn't be more proud.

"I feel excited about it because I know that it's still in him. Even though he's been gone, it's still in him," said Gregory.

"Just doing my job," said Adams.

"He was really right on time," the victim said.