Neighbor fireman saves family
BENSALEM, Pa. - June 18, 2008 Jennifer Williams spotted the fire at 5219 Bay Road in Bensalem.
"I looked over and noticed the whole door was engulfed in flames," Williams said.
She called 911 and that brought Captain Jeff Rastetter of the Newport Fire Company, a neighbor, over to the scene.
He arrived before his fire truck.
Rastetter didn't wait for an air pack; he went to save the people inside.
He first rescued an 8-year-old, and then shouted to wake up the adults.
"The mother came flying out of the bedroom, hysterical, thinking I was taking her child, screaming 'where are you taking my kid.' I informed her who I was and what I was doing, and I need to get you out of the house, as soon as possible," Captain Rastetter said.
Four adults and the 8-year-old made it out. The fire is determined as arson, with hay or straw piled at the door and set ablaze.
Authorities will not say if the attack was in retaliation to a business relationship gone badly or that threats had been sent to one of the adults.
"This was not a random act. People don't need to fear that there's a random arsonist. This was specific in nature and we feel comfortable that there will be an arrest in this case," Fred Harran, the Bensalem Public Safety Director, said.
