By Debbie Williams Reporter
Published: Tue, May 06, 2008 - 4:00 pm
Last Updated: Tue, May 06, 2008 - 4:31 pm
Last Updated: Tue, May 06, 2008 - 4:31 pm
Debbie Williams
An embrace of heartfelt gratitude between Russ Johnson and Alexandrea Walker. Last night they met for the first time in the worst of circumstances.
"I was sitting on the recliner," says Johnson, "when I started hearing stuff explode. So I jumped up, ran outside and saw the fire at the end of the road."
Walker had just moved in two weeks ago. She'd only been home a short while and was putting her kids to bed. "I just heard some booms outside and I slid the sliding glass door open and the carport was on fire."
"I could hear her screaming help me with the kids, help me with the kids and somebody save me I'm burning," says Johnson.
Upstairs, homeowner Kay Neri was trapped. "I heard her upstairs screaming. I had no idea what she was doing or where she was," says Walker.
Meanwhile, Johnson was already approaching the house. "I ran down the road and couldn't get to them because of the heat," he says.
Twelve hours after the fire started and the house is still burning but it's nothing compared to last night. Walker and her children were forced to the deck to escape the flames. Russ Johnson could hear their screams for help. His only thought, get his boat and rescue them.
"I hollered to her, I'm not leaving I'm going back to get my boat. I got my boat and got her and her kids off and back to the house."
Non one knows what caused it yet according to Seminole Volunteer Fire Chief Kenny Ping. "There was multiple explosions, very high, intense explosions."
But in the light of day it becomes all to real how lucky anyone was to get out alive.
"It had me teared up last night. It had me scared to death," says Johnson.
Homeowner Kay Neri is hospitalized with burns and a broken leg. She also lost both of her cats in the fire.
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