No. 14 Vol. 14
New View Media Group • 1-800-691-7549
August 16, 2018
Wayne Couple Save Elderly Pair From House Fire
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By Jason Cohen Wayne couple put their lives on the line when they rescued two people from a burning home recently. On June 14, Al-Raheem Thomas and Unique Zapata, both 27, were on the way home from their daughter Harmony’s kindergarten graduation ceremony at James Fallon Elementary School when they suddenly saw smoke coming from a residence on Alps Road. “From down the block you could have seen it (the smoke) as you got closer,” Zapata said. Zapata is a volunteer with the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad and Thomas is doing field training for the Wayne Police Department.
Emergency responders were not on the scene yet, so they quickly pulled over, called 911 and proceeded to help. As they got out of their car they immediately saw a boat in the backyard engulfed in flames and a man attempting to extinguish it. They asked him if anyone was inside and he said his parents. Before they went in the house Thomas told their son to put down the water hose because it was only making the fire worse. So, without hesitation the two of them went in. “When we went in the house the flames were spreading,” Zapata said. Zapata and Thomas explained that even though they were putting themselves in danger their first thought was to help the people inside. They found the elderly husband and wife and got them to safety before the fire could reach the house. Thomas noted that mother seemed confused and out of it, while the father understood what was taking place. They were not injured, but the son burnt his face and arms in his attempt to extinguish the fire. “I think if we didn’t have the training we wouldn’t have acted like we did,” Zapata said. “Some others would have tried to take out the fire instead of just taking the person out of the house.” The fire department arrived on scene
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Al-Raheem Thomas and Unique Zapata.
quickly and put out the fire. Since their heroic actions they have been praised by friends, family and colleagues at the police department and first aid squad. However, they both stressed they didn’t rescue the people for the recognition. “We didn’t do it to be honored,” Thomas said. “We did to help people.” Added Zapata, “That’s just me genuinely, I like help people. I’m going to school for nursing. That’s how my heart is.”
First Aid Squad Rings In 75 Years, To Hold Open House
he Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad is having a 75th Anniversary Open House on Sunday Sept. 23, from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at its Downtown First Aid building located at 8 Rohrbach Memorial Way in Wayne. At this open
house residents are invited to stop in and meet their members and view equipment. Light refreshments will be served. Residents interested in becoming a volunteer EMT with the squad will be holding interviews.