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Man, Mother Rescued From Lawndale Fire

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 54-year-old woman and her 21-year-old son are out of the hospital after being rescued from a fire that engulfed their Lawndale apartment. WBBM's Bob Roberts spoke with some of those affected and one of their rescuer.

Zabrina Washington thought someone was cooking at a barbecue when officer Edward Leighton broke down the door to her apartment at 1945 South Drake.

"My children and my pets we all got out of the house and he went upstairs. He coached a neighbor on the third floor through a window and there was a guy also on the roof and we all made it out safe," said Washington.

Man, Mother Rescued From Lawndale Fire

Leighton tried to enter the top floor apartment where fire had spread from the couch but was driven out. He spotted the woman hanging from a window and radioed for firefighters and then kept her from passing out.

"I maintained dialogue with her from the unit, making sure she didn't panic and making sure she didn't pass out," said Leighton.

Told someone would call him a hero, Leighton said it won't help when he is painting his bathroom.

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