Teen rescues neighbor from burning house
Published: August 29, 2007
A Kent County teen is being called a hero after rescuing an elderly man from his burning home.
The call for help came late Saturday night in the Alpine Meadows mobile home park, near Fruit Ridge Avenue and 4 Mile Road.
Investigators are not saying much about the fire, but neighbors tell 24 Hour News 8 they heard the sound of windows popping around 11:45 p.m.
All that is left is a burned-out shell of a mobile home at 3901 Vail Avenue.
Rob Vander Meulen, 17, and his mother live across the street. They were playing cards when they heard the fire. After rushing outside, they saw smoke pouring from the windows and no sign of the elderly man who lives in the home.
Despite the apparent danger, Vander Meulen sprang into action without concern for his own safety, eventually finding the elderly man inside the front door.
“It didn’t really cross my mind. I didn’t even really think, I just ran over there,” said Vander Meulen. “I saw him trying to open the inside door but he couldn’t get it open for some reason.”
That is because the door was still locked.
Investigators say the man was suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. Vander Meulen pulled the door open, breaking the lock, then carried the man outside.
Vander Meulen’s mom helped the two across the street away from the fire. She says she wasn’t surprised to see her son pulling the man from a burning home.
“I have confidence in him. He’s a very smart kid and if he thought he couldn’t handle it, he would stop,” said Kris Johnson.
On Sunday, Vander Meulen was the talk of Alpine Meadows. He aspires to be a firefighter, putting his own well-being aside to help someone in need.
“Anybody would have done it, I hope,” added Vander Meulen. “It was just a coincidence that I was the one that came outside. If my mom would have come out, she would have been there. It was just a fact of me getting there first.”
The homeowner was taken to a hospital, and his condition is unknown. Investigators have not released his name.
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