Wes Patterson’s home, in the 1400 block of Burrell Avenue, caught fire Tuesday morning.
Before he noticed the fire, he was inside having his morning coffee, but he noticed some smoke drifting by his window.
“By the time I got up and looked out the window, I seen some people just passerbyers running up to my gate,” said Wes. “And I met them at my door, they were waving and screaming saying your house is on fire and I looked and there was smoke just boiling.”
Tuesday morning just after 9 a.m. Wes ran back to his house to get his fire extinguisher but when he opened the door the smoke overwhelmed him.
“Smoke just hit me in the face and I just tried to squirt the fire extinguisher and about that time somebody grabbed me by the neck, drug me out of the door, said you gotta get out of here, drug me across the street and told me to stay.”
That person was an off-duty Nez Perce County deputy who also called 911.
“The fire department saved my house,” said Wes.
All three Lewiston engine crews responded and knocked the fire down within minutes.
“They got here quick and extinguished it,” said Wes.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up by his daughter.
On the page she writes, “We are unsure if there is insurance on this house as his wife of over 20 years passed away September 16 and she did all the paperwork and bills for him. He is 68 years old and on disability so any help would be greatly appreciated.”
The Go Fund Me goal is $10,000. But fire officials estimated the damage to his home is about $100,000.