OCSD Deputies Rescue Sleeping Man From Burning Home

TUSTIN, CA — Early Sunday morning a passing motorist in the area of Newport and Cowan Heights saw something that looked like flames lighting up the dark sky. He called 9-1-1, quite possibly saving a man's life, authorities have said.

Orange County Sheriff's Department, Santa Ana Dispatch, received the emergency call from a driver in the area who was unsure as to where or what was on fire, a north patrol spokesperson said over Facebook.

Within minutes, deputies arrived to scout out the situation and found the source of the blaze "right away," they said.

The roof of a house was fully aflame, with fire raging in the upstairs of the home.

With firefighters still on the way, three deputies on the scene did not wait, and "courageously entered the smoke-filled residence, locating the homeowner asleep inside a closed bedroom," they said.

As firefighters from Orange County Fire Authority and Orange City Fire arrived on the scene, the deputies brought the homeowner outside and ensured that there were no further people or pets inside the home.

The blaze was knocked down at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday morning and no one was injured, OCFA spokesperson Larry Kurtz said.

"This was an example of teamwork and a great job from the passerby for calling 9-1-1," they said.

OCFA, OCSD Photos