MIDDLE RIVER, Md. — Tuesday morning in Middle River, a neighbor's quick thinking saved a family's life, and his Ring doorbell camera captured it all.
WATCH: CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Neighbor saves family from burning home
Steven Angelini was asleep in his Bowley's Quarter's home when he heard popping from outside.
When he looked at his Ring doorbell camera, he saw the home across the street up in flames.
"My immediate reaction was I want to make sure that everyone's out of the house," Angelini said.
In his Ring doorbell video, he could be heard screaming, "Is anybody there?"
A mother and two young children were inside.
"By the time I got to the middle of the street, I heard horror screams. It was haunting, it was scary, and I knew it wasn't good."
Running off adrenaline, he tried to get a ladder to help the family, but his arm was previously injured.
"My next option was, you know, what they probably have, maybe a minute, seconds left to live, so I told the mother to drop the kids to me."
After he saved both kids, other neighbors grabbed a ladder to help the mother down.
The Baltimore County Fire Department arrived shortly after at 7:12 a.m. on Kosoak Road.
Unfortunately, the family's dog died in the home.
The mother and children were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Baltimore County Fire Chief Joseph Dixon released a statement on the situation, saying,
“This incident is a powerful reminder of the strength of our communities. Before our fire and EMS crews arrived, neighbors acted without hesitation to help a mother and her children escape a dangerous situation. I want to thank these residents for their courage and selflessness and commend our crews for their swift response in extinguishing the fire and providing medical support.”
Steven's wife, Jessica, told WMAR-2 News that this isn't the first time her husband has jumped into action to help someone, pointing to a fatal crash that happened up the street on Christmas Eve.
"He had gone and spoke to the man who ended up passing away and telling him, talk to him, keep breathing until the ambulance came," she said.
Jessica also said something similar happened back in 2020.
“A pedestrian got hit. I was making a turn, and he didn’t even wait for me to stop; he jumped out of the car and helped that person, too.”
Steven said he's no hero.
"I think God puts me in situations to help other people. I did what I would want anyone else to do for my family."
But Jessica thinks hero only begins to describe how big his heart is.
"I hope the universe gives back to him what he gives to everyone else, he deserves it. He's a hero even if he doesn't think so."
The neighborhood is collecting clothes for the family.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
