Jeff Bloom, police officer, rescue two from burning house Wednesday

Fire destroys the second floor of 511 E. Allison on Wednesday. No injuries were reported. An investigation conducted by Nevada Fire ruled the fire accidental. The rear of the second story sustained heavy fire damage resulting in an estimated $10,000 loss for the house, according to the report. Photo by Lorie Harter/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

"I can't sit by and watch people burn."

Jeff Bloom, a KCP &L employee, was on his way to work 8 a.m. Wednesday morning when he saw smoke west of Osage. He followed the smoke to Hickory and then Elm.

"The smoke kept getting thicker and thicker," he said. "I thought people might be burning brush, then I saw the rooftop of a house in flames."

An elderly woman on the street shouted people were still inside the house at 511 E. Allison.

"I ran inside to help people get to safety," Bloom said. "One gentleman was downstairs looking for keys. Another person was upstairs trying to put out the fire with a hose. I climbed the stairwell and I told him, 'We need to get out, the house is gone.' He wouldn't listen, so I grabbed him by the overalls and carried him out on my back. I don't know who he was."

A Nevada police officer arrived on scene and together they helped the other man, Lynn Sheridan, leave the house.

Nevada Fire Department arrived at 8:06 a.m. on scene to find heavy smoke and fire showing from the second story in the rear of the house, according to a press release. Twelve personnel, one from Milo Fire, knocked down the fire from the outside, made an interior attack and then brought the fire under control by approximately 9:30 a.m.

No injuries were reported. An investigation conducted by Nevada Fire ruled the fire accidental. The rear of the second story sustained heavy fire damage resulting in an estimated $10,000 loss for the house, according to the report.

Lieutenant Taylor McKlintic said a couple hours later the department received a rekindle alert.

"Some insulation was on fire, but it was nothing to take care of," he said.

Bloom's father, Gary, praised his son's heroics.

"Of course, I also chewed him out for putting his life in danger," Gary said. "But, I'd do the same thing because I used to be a cop."

Bloom remained humble about his actions.

"It was just one of those spur of the moment deals, I had to jump in," he said.