OLDSMAR, Fla. — A Tampa Bay mother credits a maintenance man for saving her children from a burning building.
Fire crews responded Thursday afternoon to 3711 Old Village Way in Oldsmar with reports of smoke and flames showing in two apartments.
“The top floor was engulfed, there was no way to get up there,” said Dwayne Sutor, a maintenance man doing yard work at the property.
In those tense moments, Sutor did not hesitate to help as two children remained trapped on the second floor with the fire inching closer and closer.
“I heard somebody screaming, yelling help from upstairs,” said Sutor. “Me and another guy instructed them to kick out the window and jump out the window.”
Sutor’s instructions worked as he was there to catch the two children as they jumped to safety.
Their mother, Jessica Jagerson, says Sutor saved their lives.
Jagerson was away from home working when the fire started.
“Their survival instinct was stronger than their fear but they got out the window and within 30 seconds my daughter was on the phone telling me they were out,” said a relieved Jagerson. “But that was a long, scary 30 seconds.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
City of Oldsmar Fire Chief Jason Schwabe tells ABC Action News no residents were injured due to the fire and seven families have been displaced.
According to Schwabe, two apartment units were burned and eight units received some level of smoke damage.
Firefighters were able to save the family dog, Max.
Jagerson says with so much division, Sutor’s rescue is an important reminder of what really matters.
“Dwayne didn’t ask our political affiliations and he didn’t ask what denominations we were, he simply wanted to preserve the lives of my children and that is a beautiful thing," she said.
