4 people escape from house fire on Young Street

Four people were in hospital Saturday morning after narrowly escaping a house fire on Young Street.

Fire crews were called out around 4 a.m. to a two-story home on the 500 block of Young Street with flame and smoke billowing from the windows.

A man, woman, and two boys had already escaped the home by the time crews arrived, fire officials said.

The woman and children were taken to hospital in stable condition while the man was in critical condition with burn injuries, police said. Police said the man is now in stable condition and remains in hospital, along with the woman. The others have been treated and released. 

Warren Humeny lives directly across the street. He said the family moved in only two weeks ago.

"I heard some glass breaking and looked out my window and noticed some fire on the ground," he said, adding he grabbed his fire extinguisher thinking it was a small blaze on the lawn.

"When I got out I noticed that the living room appeared to be engulfed in flames and there was already a police car coming down the street."

Humeny said he saw the people coming out of the house and the man was "bellowing in pain."

There was no estimate on damages and the cause is still being investigated.

Yonas Zeru, who is the landlord, said he was glad everyone got out. 

"My first concern was about the people that were staying in there, if they are safe," he said. 

Zeru added that the house had just been renovated and was expected to be sold by the end of summer. 

"I don't know how everything will be because the buyer will not buy it for sure now," he said.