One of our members, Will Everett, an overhead troubleshooter for Eversource, is being commended for his quick reaction in helping save a woman’s life during a fire in Somerville this week.
Will had just wrapped up work on a utility pole on Marion Street in Somerville and was heading back to the Eversource garage when he spotted thick black smoke pouring out of a home. As he drove by the house, he noticed a woman stuck on the first floor roof. The woman had crawled out a window onto the small roof and was stuck because one of her legs broke through the shingles.
Will saw smoke pouring out of the windows and intensifying, soon followed by flames. He sprung into action, extended the bucket and shouted for the woman to get inside.
“I told her, ‘get in the bucket,'” Will said, recalling the ordeal. “She was able to get her right leg out. She was screaming. She shimmied down and into the bucket. I manuevered the bucket to lower her down.”
Once the bucket was down onto the street, two bystanders helped the woman out to safety. Will drove safely away from the scene but was called back to cut the power to the block as firefighters battled the blaze. The fire was extinguished by firefighters and no injuries were reported.
Somerville Fire Chief Charles Breen hailed Will for his swift action in rescuing the woman from the burning building.
“She had climbed out a window onto the front porch under heavy smoke and fire conditions, and (he) got her into the bucket and got her to safety,” Breen told WCVB-TV Channel 5. “So I, I’d like to really give credit to that worker. He did a hell of a job. Definitely saved a woman’s life.”
Local 369 is thankful that Will and the occupants of the building, as well as the firefighters, are all OK. Our members are out there in the community every day, working to not only keep the power on, but to keep our neighbors safe. Will’s heroic actions are a shining example of the bravery and commitment of our members.
Great job Will!