Neighbor rescues three people from burning home

SALEM (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Three people were rescued from their burning home and they have their neighbor to thank for it.

The fast-moving blaze broke out around 4 a.m. on Silver Street. Jim Raymond, the next-door neighbor, tells FOX25 he heard fire alarms going off around 3 a.m.

Raymond says he ran outside, saw the house engulfed in smoke and people yelling for help. He grabbed a house ladder and put it up to the window. When the fire department arrived, all three people, a mother, father and their daughter inside, were climbing down the ladder.

All three were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and are expected to be OK.

The family's dog died in the fire. The family is now staying with a relative.

The fire was contained within 45 minutes. The house is a total loss and the cause of the fire has been ruled electrical. Fire officials say it started on the first floor from a surge protector which the computer was plugged into.