CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte man is recovering after a fire devastated his home on New Year's Day.
RECENT ARTICLE: Man taken to burn center after house fire
Sam Warner was in fair condition Friday at the Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem.
IMAGES: Townsend Avenue house fire
Eyewitness News spoke with a woman who happened to be driving by early Thursday morning and saw flames coming from the home.
Laurin Grabowsky said she didn't know the person inside, but when she saw the car in the driveway, she knew someone might be inside and knew she had to help.
"I really don't think he would have made it," Grawbowski said.
She just dropped off friends nearby when she saw the house fire.
"I banged on the door, I banged on the windows, called 911, started honking my horn, trying to get anyone up," Grabowsky said.
Fire investigators found no working smoke detectors inside the home.
Warner, who neighbors said is in his late 70s or 80s, lives alone.
Grabowsky worried when no one immediately came outside, but was relieved when the Warner emerged from his home, covered in soot and burns.
"I just wanted to get him out, check him out, sit him down, sit with him. I was holding him until the ambulances came and just making sure he was OK."
The two strangers sat together until help arrived.
Warner, a retired florist from New York City, helps with flower arrangements at his church, Myers Park Baptist.
"I'm still worried about him. I don't know anything about him, never met him before, never even been in that neighborhood before, but I am going to go visit him. I'm going to bring him flowers," Grabowsky said.
Firefighters said the fire started accidentally but they have not determined a cause.
Grabowsky said it was pure chance she was there to help and that she doesn't usually drive on Warner's road.
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