A woman was rescued by a passer-by after being entrapped her home which caught fire early this morning in Polk Township.

Polk Township Fire Chief Billy Tippett said firefighters were dispatched at 4:35 a.m. to a home at 708 Burger Hollow Road.

Tippett said when they arrived, flames were shooting through the roof of the two-story wood frame single-family home.

“While en route we were notified from a passer-by who notified 911 that there was entrapment,” Tippett said. “That passer-by was able to get the victim out of the house prior to the fire company’s arrival safely.”

Tippett said the victim, and adult woman, was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He said there were no injuries to any of the firefighters who responded.

The home is a total loss, according to Tippett, who said crews had the fire under control in about an hour before moving into overhaul operations as crews were on scene for nearly three hours.

“When we pulled up on scene it was like 13 degrees outside, just bitter cold,” he said. “We had to keep the guys warm, keep things from freezing, doing what we can to avoid slip and fall injuries with water freezing on all surfaces; it’s very imperative that the roads are kept salted and cindered for safety sake.”

Tippett said also assisting on scene were the West End Fire Company, Kunkletown Fire Company, Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder Fire Company, Pocono Township Fire Company for their Rapid Intervention Team, Lehigh Valley Health Network EMS, Lehighton EMS, Lehighton State Police, and Polk Township road crew for salt trucks.

“It was a great job by the passer-by to number one, spot the fire, and two, jump into action the way they did to move the resident,” he said. “It was a great job by them, and a great job by all the volunteer firefighters working together.”