Man rescues neighbor from burning home

A neighbor rescued a Gardnerville Ranchos woman from her burning home early Monday morning.

East Fork firefighters responded to a report of a house fire at 1325 Leonard St. at about 2:22 a.m.

According to Capt. Terry Taylor, resident Christine Larson said she was awakened by loud noises in the house. He said she told investigators she thought there was a burglar in the house, but couldn't get through to 911 on her cell phone.

She called her husband, who was in Reno, who phoned for help.

In the meantime, neighbor Shawn S. Howard, 30, heard something and looked out his window.

When he saw the orange glow, he went outside, jumped the fence and took down the Larson's screen. Larson opened the window and he climbed in and lifted her and her dogs outside to safety and then followed, according to Taylor.

When authorities arrived, the front of the home was engulfed in fire. Firefighters from the Gardnerville Ranchos, Minden, Gardnerville and Sheridan Acres responded to the blaze.

Taylor said he has determined the fire started in the west wall of the garage, but has not determined a cause.