Two elderly women escape flaming home thanks to brave neighbor

Two women were able to be evacuated from their home after it caught flames thanks to the bravery of a selfless neighbor.

Friday morning, a call came in of a fire in the 1000 block of Speed Street. The call was made by the neighbor, Ceola Parker.

“When I dialed 911 I seen the flames. I stopped the neighbor across the street to ask him if there were old ladies in the house. He said yes,” stated Parker.

Parker stated the neighbor did not realize the house was ablaze and asked for assistance in evacuating the occupants.

“I ran over there, I heard the first old lady screaming. I got her out of the house and got her down the steps,” said Parker. She continued, “There was another old lady, she was in the fire in the doorway. I was trying to get her. I got her and got her to the step way.”

Friday morning’s fire on Speed Street. (Photo by David Day)

Officer Tommy Curtis then arrived and assisted to bring the elderly woman to Parker’s truck, away from the home.

Parker stated that despite her fear, it was by the grace of God she was there to help.

“I was scared, but the grace of God – I keep God first in everything that I do,” stated Parker.  “It was me and the good Lord that saved them,” Parker continued, tearfully. “I thank God I was here at the time to be a guardian angel to help save them, because without me they probably would have been burnt up.”

One of the victims recently suffered a stroke and is said to have Alzheimer’s. If not for the bravery of Parker, this story may have had a very different outcome.