SCHENECTADY -- It was a heroic effort from neighbors on Duane St. in Schenectady, rescuing a man from a home after an early morning fire.
They says if they weren't already outside because of a power outage, they might not have gotten to the man in time to save his life.


"He wasn't aware of the fire was showing from the attic and they knocked on the door and banged on the door and windows," says assistant Fire Chief,
Raymond Senecal.  


Calls came in to the Schenectady Fire Department just before 8:00 Sunday morning. Upon arrival though, the man who lives in 314 was already out of the home, and lucky to be alive. A car accident on nearby Paige Street caused power to be knocked out for several blocks, so neighbors were able to see the
fire and call for help.


"We had lost power so we were all outside trying to figure out what happened to the power, someone yelled fire, and I had left my porch to run down, a gentleman kicked in the door and me and another lady went upstairs to grab the man," says Susan Trubridge.  


"I think he would have perished in that fire yes, because I didn't realize how severe it was, plus when I got out I could see the flames shooting all the way to the next block," Veronica McPhail adds.


Fire crews were able to get the flames under control in just 30 minutes. Those who live in the neighborhood are now being hailed as heroes.


"People are like 'oh you're a hero' no. Other people would have done the same, I hope," says Trubridge.  


"It was a whole street team effort, everybody was here somebody was calling 9-1-1 we were running to the rescue," McPhail adds.

Investigators are looking into whether or not it was a power surge that caused the fire, they say they aren't ruling anything out.