Man suffers burns during house fire in east Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- One man was taken to the hospital Wednesday after an early morning fire destroyed his home on Boicewood Street off Lockwood Drive.

Firefighters say he's lucky he made it out alive and that may be thanks to a neighbor down the street who spotted smoke.

Carl Hines, 53, says he knew his longtime friend was inside the home and needed help. Hines tells abc13 he didn't think about his own safety when he ran in to help. He says he found his friend laying on the ground in the front of the house. The smoke was thick. Hines says he ran in and out of the home five times to get air, while trying to convince his friend to get out.

"He was conscious, he was talking and I kept telling him to get up and stuff, but the smoke was so tough he didn't get up. So I had to get down low and go on in and when [I saw] him I had to grab him, and I had to drag him," Hines said.

Hines says he dragged him out the front door onto the lawn. Firefighers say they arrived shortly after the man was rescued and he was taken to the hospital with possible second degree burns to his face, neck, chest, and arm.

"I'm concerned and I'm worried about [him]. Is he alright? He didn't even feel... he don't even know he [was] burnt. He kept saying his arm was hurting but his arm was burnt. He kept telling me to leave him alone, but I wouldn't," Hines said.

A fire captain on scene with the Houston fire department said the fire likely started in the back of the home. Arson investigators are trying to figure out how it started. It doesn't appear suspicious.