CT Mayor, Veteran Rescue Teen From House Fire: Report

WOLCOTT, CT — An 18-year-old Wolcott resident recently got the chance to thank two Good Samaritans who rescued him when his home caught fire last week, according to media reports. One of those heroes is a Vietnam War veteran, while the other is the mayor of Wolcott himself, Thomas Dunn.

When the fire broke out on Dec. 6, Lawrence's mother was not home and he had just had surgery on both of his legs due to an injury suffered during a high school football game, News 8 reported. That was the moment Paul Wozniak, Sr. drove by the smoking home and decided to pull over.

Wozniak decided to see if anyone was inside the house and located Lawrence upstairs, News 8 reported. As they made their way down the stairs, Dunn arrived to to help Wozniak bring Lawrence to safety. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

According to the Republican-American, fire officials said the blaze was sparked by an electrical issue in the home's attic. Firefighters were able to remove two dogs and a ferret from the house, while Wozniak and Dunn were also able to save one cat from the burning residence.

Though Dunn is currently serving as mayor, he was also a volunteer firefighter for 15 years, according to the Republican American. The family lost many items as a result of the fire, including a number of treasured Christmas decorations.

A GoFundMe page was set up in the family's honor on Dec. 7 by Laura Clark of Waterbury. As of Wednesday afternoon, 48 people have raised $3,651 of a $10,000 goal in just six days.

"A friend of mine had one of the worst things imaginable happen to her and her family right before the [holidays] - her entire home and everything in it was lost in an electrical fire," the page reads. "I am asking that as many people as possible come together to help her get back on her feet during this hard time."

The page also asks for donations of items, including clothing and pet supplies, as many of the family's possessions were lost in the fire.

To donate to the family's GoFundMe page, click here.

Photo credit: Shutterstock/GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner