Massachusetts man who lost his wife and two young daughters in a tragic house fire saves his neighbor from a similar blaze 20 years later: ‘I’m glad things worked out today’
- Mark Collum, 56, from Rowley, Massachusetts, was in his home when he heard his neighbor Deb Shanahan screaming for help around 5:00 a.m. and called 911
- The commercial fisherman said he ran out and found Shanahan in the kitchen, explaining that there were ‘flames billowing out the back’
- In January 2001, Collum’s wife Lisa and their daughters, Lindsay, four, and Carly, five months, died after a fire broke out in their home in Ipswich
- Collum, who was not home at the time of the fire that took his family, said he is ‘glad things worked out today’
A man who lost his wife and two young children in a tragic house fire has become a local hero after saving a woman from a similar blaze 20 years later.
Mark Collum, 56, from Rowley, Massachusetts, was in his home early Sunday morning when he heard his neighbor Deb Shanahan screaming for help around 5:00 a.m. and called 911.
The commercial fisherman told ABC affiliate WCVB that he threw on clothes and ran out the door after she yelled, ‘Fire! Fire!’
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Local hero: Mark Collum, 56, from Rowley, Massachusetts, saved his neighbor Deb Shanahan from a fire in her home early Sunday morning
Blaze: The commercial fisherman found Shanahan in the kitchen after he heard her screaming for help around 5:00 a.m. and grabbed her
Safe: Rowley Fire Department officials said Shanahan will recover from her injuries, which are not believed to be serious. The cause of the fire is under investigation
‘There were flames billowing out the back, smoke filling up the kitchen,’ he said. ‘I just grabbed her and just took her out.’
Rowley Fire Department officials told the news station that Shanahan will recover from her injuries, which are not believed to be serious.
‘I had a little smoke in my lungs, same with her, so we just kind of took her outside and things worked out well,’ Collum said. ‘Thank God.’
In January 2001, tragedy struck his family when his wife Lisa and their daughters — Lindsay, four, and Carly, five months — died after a fire broke out in their home in Ipswich.
Heartbreaking: In January 2001, Collum’s wife Lisa and their daughters, Lindsay, four, and Carly, five months, died after a fire broke out in their home in Ipswich
Grateful: Collum, who was not home at the time of the fire that took his family (pictured), said he is ‘glad things worked out today’
Flames trapped Lisa and Lindsay on the third floor, but the mom managed to drop Carly out of a window in an attempt to save her life, WCVB reported.
The infant was pronounced dead after being flown to New England Medical Center.
Collum was not home at the time of the fire, but the other people in the house, including relatives, were able to escape the blaze without serious injury.
‘It still resonates in me. But I’m glad things worked out today,’ he said.
‘I’m just glad I was here and did the right thing. That’s all. Hopefully, Deb’s alright and everything worked out well today, so I’m kind of glad.’
The cause of the fire at Shanahan’s home remains under investigation, according to the news station.