INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) -
A teenage boy is alive Wednesday after jumping out a window of a burning home into the arms of his neighbor.
Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 17000 block of Cliff Drive shortly about 9 a.m. Wednesday. The home is located in a subdivision west of Interstate 470, south of Highway 40.
Witnesses say it was a harrowing scene as a fire raged inside the home, and they called neighbor Jeffrey Shrout a hero.
Most of the kids had made it out safely, but one teenager was still trapped inside and screaming for help. Luckily, a quick-thinking Shrout was able to help.
Witnesses say the kids were home alone because their foster mother had to be hospitalized for a completely separate reason Tuesday night.
When the fire broke out, it quickly spread, attracting bystanders including Shrout.
He said he circled the home and spotted the teen in a second-story window, and was able to convince him to jump into his arms. The suffered some minor cuts and abrasions but is doing fine.
"I said, 'Here man!' I reached up and grabbed his arms. He said, 'Man, help me.' I said, 'You'll be alright, just come on." He came out the window and landed on top of me and the deck. He cut his leg, but he's OK," Shrout recounted.
He said the teen escaped just in time.
"It was smoky. The whole upper floor looked like it was starting to get engulfed in flames," he said.
Chief Fire Inspector Gene Gould said working smoke detectors could have saved lives.
"The smoke detectors created an environment for escape," Gould said. "They sounded in time for everyone to exit safely."
Fire investigators are not sure what caused the blaze.
The flames caused extensive damage to the home, but an estimate was not immediately available.
The area Red Cross chapter is assisting the family who are now homeless.
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Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 17000 block of Cliff Drive in Independence shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Shrout)
Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 17000 block of Cliff Drive in Independence shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Shrout)
