Neighbors rescue 91-year-old woman from house fire

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- An overnight house fire in Milwaukee caused close to $80,000 in damage late Thursday, October 31st. The incident, however, ended on a positive note.

Robert Fields and Yolanda Smith, who live just two doors down from the fire, didn't know their neighbors very well -- but Fields risked his life to save an elderly woman inside the home.

Fields says he was laying in bed just before midnight when he was asked for help.

"We got a knock at the door and the young lady, the granddaughter, said their house was on fire," recalled Fields.

The woman's 91-year-old grandmother was trapped inside the burning building due to limited mobility. Fields attempted to enter the home but was pushed back by the overwhelming smoke and heat. That's when he asked Smith for assistance.

"I had her get me a blanket and a wet towel and I kind of stooped down and I could hear her hollering, you know screaming, and I told her 'keep yelling, keep yelling' -- and even though I couldn't see in front of me, I'd focus in on her voice," said Fields. "That's how I was able to go in there and get her out. I felt around and once I felt her arm I immediately grabbed her and put her over my shoulder and carried her out."

Fields then took the woman to his home where Smith cleaned her up.

"I'd washed her down and got the smut off her and made sure I wrapped her up," said Smith.

After rescuing the woman, Fields returned to the home with a water hose in an attempt to keep the fire from spreading to the house next door.

Despite their actions, Fields and Smith don't consider themselves heroes. The two say adrenaline kicked in and they did what they'd hope anyone would do for their own mother.

The fire department says if Fields hadn't taken action, the woman could have been severely burned, or possibly worse.