AUBURN – An elderly man and woman were being examined for smoke inhalation Thursday night after flames from a garage spread to their Hillside Avenue home.

A police officer who rushed into the burning home became momentarily trapped when the doorway behind him burst into flames.

Officer Andre Levesque was credited with entering the house at 55 Hillside Ave. to rescue a 90-year-old woman who was unable to escape through the smoke.

“Officer Levesque saved that woman’s life,” said Auburn police Lt. Tim Cougle.

Ruth Callahan was being examined for smoke inhalation hours after the 6 p.m. blaze. Her husband, 85-year-old Fred Callahan was also being examined after trying to battle flames in the garage.

Officials said the blaze started in a garage and began spreading to the attached house before firefighters arrived.

A vehicle parked inside the garage was believed to be the source of the fire.

When Levesque arrived at the home moments after the fire was first reported, he found Fred Callahan trying to snuff out the vehicle fire. Meanwhile, the garage was going up in flames and Ruth Callahan was inside the house.

After helping Fred Callahan out of the garage, Levesque burst into the house through a breezeway door, police said.

“When I got there, that door was no longer an option,” Cougle said. “It was engulfed in flames.”

Cougle tried calling Levesque on his police radio but got no response. The lieutenant then exited the burning garage and went to a door at the front of the single-story home. The door was locked.

Levesque came out the door moments later with Ruth Callahan under his arm.

“A big plume of smoke came out with them,” Cougle said. “The two of us got the woman under her arms and carried her out.”

Neither officer was hurt in the blaze. Fire crews worked in sub-zero temperatures to put out the blaze before the flames consumed the house.

The fire scene was located near the corner of Merrill Street, which is off Western Avenue. Fire crews at the scene retreated to a warm school bus parked in the area to provide relief.

Crews remained at the scene hours after the fire was first reported, putting out hot spots and searching for a cause.

“We had frozen trucks, frozen radios and slippery conditions,” said Platoon Chief Richard McFadden. “It’s just a nasty, nasty night.”

Investigators said it appeared the fire started in one of two cars parked inside the garage. Most of the house was spared from fire damage, although it was unknown when the Callahans would be able to return to their home.

Levesque said Ruth Callahan had been trying to dress herself in warm clothing when he found her inside the smoke-filled house. Still, he was more impressed with the firefighters who put out the flames than with his own actions.

“Those guys are the heroes,” Levesque said. “They did an amazing job out there.”

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