Motorcyclist Saves Elderly Woman From Burning Weston House

WESTON (CBS) -- An elderly woman in Weston was rescued from her porch by a man passing by as a fire ripped through her home Tuesday morning. When first responders arrived at the North Avenue home, the woman was in her driveway suffering from second and third-degree burns.

Nick Douris was just riding on his yellow motorcycle when he passed the burning home.

"As I turned the bike off. I heard screams. At first it was very scary because I thought it was a child in the house," Douris said. "So I ran towards the house and thankfully when I got to the house, saw she was emerging on the porch, so I snatched her up and grabbed her and carried her away."

Neighbors who know the woman said she is 88. They took pictures as they watched in awe. Retired firefighter Tom Sherr also happened to pass by and stopped to help. "She was sitting there complaining, she was in pain, but she was conscious. She knew what was going on. Just a lot of burns," Sherr said.

She had suffered second and third degree burns. Her home was gutted.

"Just wanted to get her away from the fire, and then was waiting with her and holding her hand until the emergency workers arrive," Douris said.

The Weston fire chief said the age of the house and surrounding debris made the job a challenge for dozens of firefighters from Weston and surrounding towns.

"They had heavy fire on the first floor coming out the front door the front windows, out through the porch, and it quickly went up into the attic," Weston Fire Chief David Soar said.

As for Douris, Sherr hailed him a hero.

"Definitely a hero," Sherr said. "He saw the smoke, he heard some cries for help, he jumped in right away."

"I think most people would've stopped and done the same," Douris said.

The State Fire Marshal had two investigators at the home all day, working with Weston police and fire investigators. They are yet to determine the cause of the fire.