Two Men in Critical Condition After North Abilene Fire
By: Jessica Reyes
Updated: March 29, 2012
It started around 11:30 Wednesday night in the 3700 block of Fortune Avenue in North Abilene.
"I ran up to the front and the gate was locked, so I kicked it open. Ran up to the front door and the window exploded on me," said Jami Paxton, who tried to save the men from the home.
Paxton and two other people found one of the men, but couldn't get him out in time.
"I could see him and I tried to climb through the window. I got a hold of him and I pulled on him, and I had a hold of him around his torso, and I kept trying to pull him out. Then the smoke just engulfed us so bad," Paxton recalled.
Firefighters got there shortly after and searched the home.
"We conducted a primary search, and we were unable to find anyone on the first search," said Lt. Greg Goettsch of the Abilene Fire Department.
On the second search, officials found the two men and got them out of the house. Both were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Fire crews were at the home for most of the day Thursday making sure the flames didn't start back up. Investigators are still working to determine what started the fire.

