Passerby pulls woman from house fire

Feb. 11--A woman escaped from an Allred Road house fire Thursday afternoon after an unknown passerby pulled her out of the blaze.

Kenneth Swing was thankful someone helped his wife, Joyce Robertson Swing, 67, escape the home in the 2000 block of Allred Road. He had gone to the store to purchase some items. Swing said he returned home to find his house on fire.

"My wife, she was in the house, and some man stopped by and pulled her out," Swing said. "We can't find who it is. We would like to find out who it is."

Swing said the man knocked on the door multiple times and went inside the house to get his wife out. Several people, including Joyce Swing, called 911 about the fire.

"I thank him a lot," Swing said of the man saving his wife.

Family members said Joyce Swing has a lot of health concerns, including COPD. The Swings' daughter, DeAnn Marlow, said her mother would have never been able to get out on her own.

"She just got out of the nursing home, really about three weeks ago," Kenneth Swing said. "Brought her home and she was doing pretty good and everything. They just turned her loose (Wednesday), physical therapy and all. She is doing a whole lot better. I'm just glad she got out of the house safely."

Firefighters with the Central Fire Department responded to the house fire about 12:30 p.m. It took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Central Fire Chief Robbie Binkley reported major fire damage to the attic-roof area. He explained the house likely could be repaired. Binkley estimated about $80,000 in damage.

Binkley said the fire is under investigation, but it appears the blaze started in the attic. Davidson County Fire Marshal Danny Ward and Deputy Fire Marshal Glenn Pressley were on the scene.

No injuries were reported.

The Swings are planning to stay with family members. The couple has insurance on their home.

Responding agencies were the Central, Silver Valley, Linwood, Holly Grove and South Lexington fire departments, as well as the Davidson County Fire Marshal's Office and Davidson County EMS. The American Red Cross also was notified of the blaze.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 217, or [email protected]. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick

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