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Hero Postman Saves Family from Fire

Updated: Thursday, March 21 2013, 08:39 AM EDT
COLUMBUS - A Columbus letter carrier could be honored nationally for something he did on the job today.

He pulled off his jacket to douse the flames of a man who was on fire.

Jim Rurik, a 28 year veteran of the United States Postal Service, insists he is not a hero.

"It's just one of those things. You react," said Rurik. "You don't want to see a human being on fire."

Rurik talked exclusively to ABC 6/FOX 28.

Rurik was delivering mail along Running Fox Road, in North Columbus, when he noticed smoke pouring from an apartment. As he rushed over, he saw one neighbor calling 911. Then he saw a man run out of the burning apartment.

"His leg was on fire," said Rurik "He was rolling, trying to put it out. I finally took my jacket off to get the remaining flames out. Then I ran into the building and knocked on doors just trying to get people out if they were there."

Rurik insists he's not a hero.

"It's just one of those things. You react. You don't want to see a human being on fire."

Firefighters say the fire victim had tried to start a fire in his fireplace with lighter fluid. He suffered burns to his leg. No one else was hurt.

Rurik's supervisor Brigitte Armistead said she had already called the postmaster in Cincinnati, hoping to nominate Rurik for a national hero award.

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Reporter: Terri Sullivan
Web Producer: Kellie HannaHero Postman Saves Family from Fire