KEY POINTS:
A volunteer firefighter is being credited with saving the life of an elderly man, whose wife of more than 50 years died in a blaze at their home yesterday.
Lee Simonsen, 78, died when firewood stacked in a cardboard box next to a log fire in their Whakatane home caught alight and destroyed the house.
Her 87-year-old husband, Ken, escaped the early morning blaze when firefighter Steve Mallasch climbed inside a smoke-filled bedroom and pushed him out a window 1.5m off the ground.
Mr Mallasch's colleagues at Whakatane Fire Station plan to recommend the volunteer of 21 years for a bravery award, saying Mr Simonsen would have died without his quick actions.
But Mr Mallasch last night downplayed the rescue, telling the Herald, "Anybody else would've done exactly the same thing".
Mr Simonsen remained in Whakatane Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation but the hospital duty manager said he was recovering well.
Family members said the 87-year-old had yet to register the loss of his German-born wife, whom he married after the pair became pen pals more than 50 years ago.
The couple had no children and had lived in their single-storey wooden home since Mrs Simonsen immigrated to New Zealand.
Mr Simonsen's 83-year-old sister, Margaret Mason, said the pair had married quickly after meeting so Mrs Simonsen could remain here.
"They got on well," she said.
Mrs Simonsen's body was found in the charred remains of the house after firefighters arrived at 4.30am to find flames pouring out the front windows.
Mr Simonsen had already been rescued from a bedroom at the back by Mr Mallasch, who lives nearby and saw flames before the first of three fire crews arrived.
Mr Mallasch, 45, rushed to the house and jumped the fence, running to the rear, where he saw Mr Simonsen standing at the open bedroom window.
The elderly man was unable to get out of the chest-high window, so Mr Simonsen grabbed a ladder that was lying on the ground and climbed up to help. He tried to pull Mr Simonsen out, first alone, then with the help of another neighbour, but could not, so wasted no time in jumping into the smoke-filled room.
"When I jumped in there, it was a struggle to breathe," he said. "I just picked him up by his legs and pushed him head-first out the window. He had no strength in him whatsoever."
Two neighbours below caught Mr Simonsen, who had told Mr Mallasch that his wife was in the house.
Mr Mallasch said the heavy smoke - the worst he had seen - prevented any further search inside.
Whakatane fire chief Ken Clark said the Fire Service did not usually recommend people enter burning buildings, but Mr Mallasch's training and experience had allowed him to carry out the rescue successfully.
"He turned a double fatality into a single fatality through his quick actions," Mr Clark said.
Staff at the fire station had nicknamed him "Joe 90", though Mr Mallasch was a reluctant hero.
Mrs Simonsen's niece, Anne Hunt, said the family were very grateful to Mr Mallasch and the other neighbours who had helped. "It's bad enough losing one [family member], but it could've been two," she said.
Fire safety officer Jon Rewi also praised Mr Mallasch for saving Mr Simonsen.
"I'm going to be endeavouring to make sure he gets recognised for what he's done."
Mr Rewi said the blaze had started because the cardboard box was too close to the log fire, which the couple kept burning through the night.
The incident was a stark reminder that combustibles needed to be kept at least a metre away from fires and appliances.
Smoke alarms, which were lacking in the house, were also crucial to saving lives.
