Fire Victim Rescued After 3 Tries

The third time was the charm for a man determined to rescue his neighbor in Semmes.

Witnesses say fire was shooting out all sides of Alex Weaver's home on Whigham Road Tuesday night. His neighbor and cousin, Michael Walters, ran over to help before firefighters got there. He knew Weaver was inside but couldn't hear him.

Michael tried to get to the victim through a window and even by ripping open the back door but just couldn't make it happen.

In the heat of all that activity, Michael had a flashback to a fire he witnessed more than a dozen years ago. "The girls' granddad didn't make it out that day and I can still hear her screaming to this day."

That's why after giving it his all twice, Michael tried one more time. "There was a moment when I turned away in anger. I kept hollering his name but I heard him yelp for help. I took a deep breath and went back in."

Michael found Weaver in the back bedroom and managed to pull him to safety. He suffered 2nd degree burns and is expected to make a full recovery.

There's no official cause of the fire yet but family members believe a space heater is to blame.