Neighbor talks about dramatic rescue of children trapped in house fire Wednesday morning

CLEVELAND - The McMillen family is not only lucky to be a live, but they are in good condition at Metro Health Medical Center thanks to life-saving efforts by neighbors.

The fire happened in the 3500 block of West 65th Street in Cleveland near Dennis Avenue Wednesday morning.

Dennis Schade saw the smoke, heard the screams and ran to his neighbor's house where the father leaning out a second-floor window of the burning home.

Schade said the kids were too young to jump so the dad dropped the kids into Schade's arms below, one-by-one until all three children were safe.  He handed each kid to his son who was standing next to him.  

The dad then jumped to safety from the window. The father and his three children are listed in good condition.  

Schade said he was just being a good neighbor and didn't realize the significance of his rescue efforts until it all hit him later in the day. 

Schade lost everything once in a house fire many years ago and planned to donate clothes his wife stored over the years.  Schade said his wife died last year and despite having a rough few years himself, he wants to help the McMillen  family.

Cleveland firefighters say flames were shooting through every window in the house when they arrived.

The cause is being investigated.