Warren County firefighter Cedric Martin saved neighbors from fire

Warren County firefighter Cedric Martin saved two neighbors from a fire Saturday afternoon.

The fire at Locust and Fayette is just a couple of doors down from Martin’s family residence.

Martin was on his front porch having lunch and enjoying the beautiful weather. “I saw smoke coming from the house,” said Martin. “I called the fire in from my county radio and went to the structure to see if anyone was in there.”

Two people were in the house and Martin ordered them out of the structure. “They were able to get out on their own,” explained Martin. He or they closed all the doors to the house.

“All the doors were closed and that starved the fire,” said Battalion 1, Tim Love. “When we got here the fire was basically out but had already caused a lot of damage.”

“I told them that door was hot,” explained Martin. “We closed it up.”

Warren County firefighter Cedric Martin pointing at his house a couple of doors down. Photo by David Day

Engine 6 was doing work at the city front, less than a mile away when the call came out and was able to get to the location quickly. “They were here quick!” said Martin. “This house would have been gone if they hadn’t been so close.”

“Closing the doors probably saved the structure,” said Love.

The inside of the structure. Photo by David Day

Cedric Martin has been a Warren County firefighter most of his adult life and works for the City of Vicksburg in the Water Department. “I remember him hanging out at the fire station as a kid,” said Love. “He has always been a good kid and helped out around the station.”