Passerby, Officer Save Sleeping Woburn Family

A passerby and a Woburn police officer got a sleeping family out of a burning house on Garden Terrace before anyone inside was hurt. (whdh.com) The fire broke out Saturday, April 18, and firefighters were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. to a home where heavy smoke and flames were coming from the roof, according to Boston 25 News. (boston25news.com) WHDH reported that resident Jean Mentor said he was asleep when a police officer got inside and alerted him and his relatives so they could get out. The station said a passerby first noticed the blaze and helped trigger the rescue. (whdh.com) Fire crews escalated the response to two alarms because of the size of the blaze, and no injuries were reported. Boston 25 said mutual-aid companies were also sent to the scene. (boston25news.com) The rescue unfolded in a city of about 40,151 residents, where the police department says more than 76 full-time sworn officers patrol 12.64 square miles on three shifts across the year. (woburnma.gov) Woburn police say patrol officers work around the clock, and this case turned on minutes: a passerby saw flames, an officer reached the house, and the family woke up before the fire cut off their escape. (woburnma.gov; whdh.com) Patch highlighted the episode in its April 19 morning briefing as local officials and neighbors praised the quick response that got the family out safely. (patch.com) By Saturday night, firefighters had the Woburn blaze knocked down, and the family that was sleeping inside had escaped without injury because someone outside saw the danger in time. (boston25news.com; whdh.com)