Only on 10: Providence man who rushed inside burning building thanked by family
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A Providence man who rushed inside a burning building in an effort to save a family said he just wanted to "do the right thing."
Joseph Beaver, who spoke exclusively with NBC 10 News, said he was out for a motorcycle ride Friday night when something in the distant sky caught his attention.
"Just normal riding down the street and I [saw] a billowing of smoke," he said.
Beaver said he proceeded to race toward the smoke and found a growing fire in the upper part of an apartment building on Simmons Street.
Then he learned a family was still inside on the first floor.
"I felt that we had enough time to at least notify the people -- and that’s what we did," Beaver said of himself and another man at the scene.
While flames raged above, Beaver said he went inside and found a group of adults still trying to collect belongings. He said he encouraged the group to get out, despite a language barrier.
"He said, 'Second floor, second floor’,” said Beaver. "I said, ‘Second floor is ready to come down here and burn you.' He understood, and he just yelled at his family and told them, 'Lets go’.”
Soeurn Caaum lives on the first floor and told NBC 10 News that she was struggling to get her elderly husband out when Beaver came in.
“Yeah, he helped me too,” said Caaum.
What would she like to say to him?
“I say, ‘Thank you for helping me and helping my family’,” Caaum said. “Yeah, thank you very much.”
Beaver said he acted on adrenaline.
“My wife always tells me to do the right thing. If you can help somebody, help them,” said Beaver. “You could be around people you don’t even understand the language they’re speaking, but you have no problem with them and they understand that you’re just trying to help them.”
Firefighters told NBC 10 News that they are continuing to investigate what caused the fire.