Sherae Honeycutt

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Original Post

One man is dead Friday after a house just east of 71 Highway went up in flames, police confirm.

Firefighters were dispatched to the home near 42nd and Euclid just before 1 p.m.

Video shows fire crews on the roof and deck of a house. The second story of the structure is charred and blackened.

But before first responders got there, two good Samaritans saw the fire from the road and jumped into action, hoping there would be a happier outcome.

“I assumed nobody was home because I didn’t see anybody on the street or anyone responding to the fire or neighbors or anything,” witness John Anderson said.

Jose Torres just so happened to have a ladder and tried to help the victim get down, but he said there was too much fire for the victim to get on the ladder.

“He tried getting up to the balcony on the second floor of the house and punching through the railing that was made out of wood just to get the guy to come down,” Anderson said.

Torres said the victim remained on the second floor balcony then just collapsed. Officials say the victim is a 65-year-old man. KCFD said two of his family members were downstairs at the time, unable to help.

“I think he was heroic that he tried to save someone he didn’t know,” Deputy Chief James Dean said. “He came and he saw the fire, and he decided he was going to try to do something to help someone who was obviously in a perilous situation.”

Torres sustained minor burns while trying to help the victim.

There is no word yet on what may have caused the fire.