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OGDEN — Two children were rescued from a burning home early Saturday morning by two Good Samaritans.
The Ogden Fire Department responded to a house fire shortly before 9 a.m. near 1600 Madison Avenue. The fire was in the main floor of the home.
A 9-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, along with two dogs were trapped in the basement.
Jordan Haviland was sleeping in the home when he heard what sounded like bacon cooking. He jumped up and got two women out of the home. He then ran inside to rescue his brother and sister in the basement, but they let go of his hand and ran back downstairs.
As crews were arriving on scene, two bystanders kicked in a basement window and pulled the children to safety, said Ogden Fire Deputy Chief Chad Tucker.
We feel that they saved these two kids' lives.
–Chad Tucker
"We feel that they saved these two kids' lives," he said.
"I do have to give them a very, very, very big thanks for helping," said Haviland. "Because there was no way you were getting back up. There was no way the firefighters could get down and back up."
The stairs were burnt out to the basement, Tucker said, and it would have been a challenge for firefighters to reach the children.
"It was not an easy thing for these people to pull these kids out of the (small) windows in the basement."
The father, Ron Haviland, was at work at the time. He said he was proud of his son. "Take care of family, that's what we try to raise our kids to do," and that's what he did.
Ron and Jordan Haviland are very grateful to have such great neighbors. Both say if it wasn't for the two men, things could have turned out very differently.
The boy and girl were transported to McKay Dee Hospital in stable condition.
The Good Samaritans didn't want any recognition, Tucker said. He said the two just took it as another day of helping their neighbors. When the children were safe, the Good Samaritans went waterskiing.
Crews were able to rescue the dogs.
The fire spread to the attic before crews were able to put the flames out. The fire caused significant damage to the main floor and rear section of the house.
Tucker said the cause of the fire was under investigation and the house had an estimated $75,000 in damages.
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