By EMS1 Staff
ELBERT COUNTY, Colo. — A volunteer firefighter-paramedic’s home was destroyed in a fire this week.
James Campbell was starting his shift as a paramedic when he saw the call on his fire department pager.
“At that point, the panic button kind of set in,” Campbell told the Denver Channel.
Campbell had to drive 30 miles to reach his home. His wife, Kimberyn Cummings, and her grandparents were at home when the fire started, but were able to escape.
Cummings said her grandfather smelled smoke, and found the back porch was on fire; the home was a total loss. Cummings, who is an EMT student, said she’s never seen a fire move so quickly.
“It happened so fast. It was unbelievable,” Cummings said.
The couple’s dogs also escaped the fire and are being cared for by a pet facility, which is accepting donations for Campbell and Cummings.
Campbell’s EMS company is also matching donations to a PayPal account.
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