Firefighters lend a hand to elderly Humble couple

HUMBLE, TX (KTRK) -- It started as a medic call to a home in Humble on Sunday morning. Firefighters with Eastex Fire Department helped a woman who had fallen and needed to go to the hospital. Walter Lee said it was his wife Elizabeth. Both of them have trouble getting around.

Firefighters noticed the ramps leading into the home were in disrepair. Once they finished the medic call they went back to the house, but this time to repair the ramps.

It wasn't unusual for this fire crew. "In order to save money, we do a lot of the repairs ourselves around here so we're always building, fixing, repairing," district Chief Steven Polonski with Eastex Fire Department said.

It was a gesture noticed by neighbors, some of whom look out for the elderly couple. "Really sad story over there, and nice of the fire department," neighbor Juan Del Villar said.

For Lee and his wife, it was so unexpected. "That's out of their way," Lee said. "They came and measured, and left and came back. You can see they fixed it."

Polonski isn't surprised. "Makes you real proud. Historically, the fire department is an integral part of the community and volunteers go back to the foundation of this country," he explained. They've certainly made an impression on the couple they helped.

"I pray for them and ask God to bless them, keep them," Lee said.