PD: Woman wouldn't leave burning home

SCITUATE, Mass. - Police officers were forced to rush into a burning home and rescue a Scituate woman who refused to leave on Friday.

Neighbors say the woman had been acting erratically in the past few days. They saw her spray painting the number “24” on the outside of her home at 24 Egypt Beach Rd. She also spray painted “SOS” on her front lawn Friday afternoon.

“She put SOS, which is a danger signal, ‘I need help,’ and the whole thing was very sad,” said one neighbor.

Police were called to her home, and by the time they got there she had allegedly set the kitchen on fire.

“She locked her doors she put a piece of furniture in front of the front doors,” said Lt. Bob Rappold, of the Scituate Police Department.

Police rushed in but she wouldn’t come out, so four officers risked their lives to drag her out of the home. They suffered smoke inhalation.

“They don’t have the gear or the breathing apparatus. They put themselves in dangerous situation to save this woman and they did a great job,” said Scituate Fire Chief Rich Judge.

Neighbors said this appears to be a cry for help. One neighbor said she always kept the blinds drawn and was afraid people were taking pictures of her inside her home.

They said the woman is in her 40s and has lived in the home by herself for about four years.