Neighbors React To Fire In Irondequoit
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: January 30, 2013
An Irondequoit man is still in guarded condition at Strong Hospital after a fire that destroyed his home. Family members tell us that Stephen Funk has Huntington's disease.
"Honestly, I didn't want him to burn alive, That's what it was. I knew he couldn't get out on his own so I just had to act," neighbor Sean Rist said.
Sean Rist says he and next-door neighbor Keith Collins heard an explosion. They both ran out of their homes to find their neighbor's home on Tamarack Drive in flames. Neighbors called 911 and tried to make their way inside the home to rescue Stephen Funk. There was no hesitation. They got whatever tools they could to get inside.
"Keith Collins and myself ended up breaking windows to ventilate because the smoke was already overcoming the property. Tried to get through the front door but we just couldn't. It was locked so I ended up running home and getting a sledge hammer and breaking down the door," Rist said.
That is when firefighters arrived and pulled Funk from his home.
"They were fortunately practicing nearby so they were on my heels right after I broke the door. They were right there right there and ran in and grabbed him," he said.
Funk has Huntington's disease, so his motor skills are limited. Rist knew he would not be able to escape by himself. As for the two heroes, Rist says anybody would have done the same thing for a neighbor.
"Honestly, I didn't want him to burn alive, That's what it was. I knew he couldn't get out on his own so I just had to act," neighbor Sean Rist said.
Sean Rist says he and next-door neighbor Keith Collins heard an explosion. They both ran out of their homes to find their neighbor's home on Tamarack Drive in flames. Neighbors called 911 and tried to make their way inside the home to rescue Stephen Funk. There was no hesitation. They got whatever tools they could to get inside.
"Keith Collins and myself ended up breaking windows to ventilate because the smoke was already overcoming the property. Tried to get through the front door but we just couldn't. It was locked so I ended up running home and getting a sledge hammer and breaking down the door," Rist said.
That is when firefighters arrived and pulled Funk from his home.
"They were fortunately practicing nearby so they were on my heels right after I broke the door. They were right there right there and ran in and grabbed him," he said.
Funk has Huntington's disease, so his motor skills are limited. Rist knew he would not be able to escape by himself. As for the two heroes, Rist says anybody would have done the same thing for a neighbor.
