Motorist saves 6 in rooming house fire

SACRAMENTO, July 10 (UPI) -- Sacramento firefighters credited a passing motorist with saving the lives of as many as six people sleeping in a burning home early Friday.

Santino Deanda was able to hustle the occupants out of the smoke-filled house, which investigators believe may not have had working smoke detectors.

Deanda and his wife were driving along H Street in East Sacramento shortly after midnight when the passed a boarding house and saw flames burning up the rear. Fire Capt. Jim Doucette said in a written statement that Deanda pulled over, told his wife to call 911, and then ran to see if he could help.

After no one answered when he pounded on the door, Deanda went into the darkened home and roused the occupants. Deanda and one elderly man were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.