Good samaritan describes Green Island fire rescue

New details on the massive house fire in Green Island, investigators said they’ve determined the cause of the Fourth of July Blaze. Fire officials said the quick actions of a good samaritan and police officers helped the family escape the flames.

GREEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) – New details on the massive house fire in Green Island, investigators said they’ve determined the cause of the Fourth of July blaze. Fire officials said the quick actions of a good samaritan and police officers helped the family escape the flames.

Green Island Fire Chief E.J. Seney said the investigation determined the fire was accidental caused by a “discarded smoking element”. He described the heroic rescue efforts.

“The police had arrived and received a report of someone trapped on the second floor and apparently on their arrival there was an unknown person trying to get the woman out,” said Seney.

That unknown person, we now know, was Jamel Jackson. He did not want his face on camera but told me he had been watching the fireworks with his daughter and shortly after he returned home he noticed the neighbor’s house was on fire.

“I came back outside and I seen the flame and I just reacted. I seen them hollering. I grabbed the baby, I put him across the street and they said the mother was in there so I went upstairs to help them out with the mom,” said Jackson.

Seney praised the officers and Jackson for their quick, bold actions under daunting conditions.

“Sgt. Chapanski from Watervliet Police Department and Officer Piazza from Green Island, went up and brought the party down through pretty bad conditions,” said Seney. He said the rescuers made it out safely with no injuries. “They absolutely put themselves in harm's way to make that rescue.”

However, Jackson said this was not his first rodeo and down played his actions that day. 

“Ain’t nothing special, just a reaction,” said Jackson “I got kids. I got two kids, so my natural reaction…I want somebody to do that for me.”

The woman they rescued is doing good, her son Thomas Hildreth said, and will likely be released from the hospital on Tueday.

7 year old Jacob Hildreth described how he felt when his mom woke him up at night and said, this is not a drill.

“I was like ‘No, no, no’...I was, like, sad. I came out. I looked up and I had my puppy in my arms and he looked and it was just not good,” said Jacob.

Seney praised Jacob for putting to use E.D.I.T.H., which stands for “Exit Drills In The Home”. Jacob said he learned from the Green Island Fire Department at school.

“It was fire safety week so the plan was if there was ever a fire you would come right across the street. Immediately get out. And so the thing is we did that and everybody was ok and everybody was safe,” said Jacob, standing in the spot the family designated in case of a fire emergency. Seney praised Jacob for his quick actions.

“This child thankfully took it home. His mom practiced it with him and he removed himself,” said Seney.

His parents told him and his siblings to stay in that spot until one of them, or a firefighter, comes to get them. 

On Friday evening, Jacob was thrilled to learn their 15 year old cat Fat Boy ran out of the house during the demolition. 

“I love Fat Boy so I was like ‘Oh my God!’ Felt so good that he came out because if he didn’t, he would’ve been done for,” said Jacob. “Unfortunately my other bud, Shy, didn’t make it.”

The family said they’re grateful the community continues to rally around them. Westlyn Hennessy and her mother Miranda Hughes are some of those neighbors. Westlyn goes to school with one of the boys. When she heard their house burned down she had one thought.

“That we needed to do something,” said Hennessy. “So that he could get the money he needed.”

So she sold lemonade on Sunday and raised $117 dollars for the family. The village is still accepting monetary donations and gift cards on behalf of the family. 

Green Island Lanes will host a fundraiser as well. Bowling alley will accept donations for the family, and raffle off items, on Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. 

There are a couple of GoFundMe’s set up for the family and the neighbors, who have been displaced from their homes while they undergo repairs.

Neighborhood parents, like Jackson and Hughes, said they will be talking to their kids about a fire safety plan. Jacob shared some advice and urged families to, “make sure to have a safety plan”.

Seney wanted to remind people of these fire prevention tips.

“I visibly when you’re cooking outside, don’t get too close to the house. Make sure candles are extinguished. Don’t leave the room if they are still burning. Fire multiplies three times a minute,” said Seney.

Fire officials stress the importance of having renters' insurance.