Children rescued from roof of burning home

CHICAGO -- Two children were rescued from the roof of a burning home Sunday night in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood by Good Samaritans.

The family is grateful to a stranger who rescued a boy and grandmother from the burning home on the city's South Side.

Norman Smith's work doesn't usually bring him into contact with people who are happy. Often, they've just lost everything. Sunday night the Blakely family was about to become one of them when Smith heard the call on his police scanner.

Smith and his brother were just a few blocks away. As they arrived the board-up crew spotted an 8-year-old boy and his grandmother trapped on the roof.

"You had the family up on the roof hollering for help. They needed help. Smoke and fire was all over," he said.

"I was worried all the smoke was going to get to us," said Antonio Warfield.

"I had put my grandma on the roof and we were screaming for help," said .

"I told him to climb out the window so he did but I couldn't hardly make it so he had to pull me out the window," said Bobbie Blakely.

"They were so happy we got 'em down. The house was engulfed in smoke and fire. Policemen said, 'Thank God you were here,'" Sylvester Smith said.

Rescued by relatives and neighbors was 98 year-old Josie Blakely.

"I was thankful for them. Always will be, as long as I'm living," Josie Blakely said.

"I would tell him thank you and I appreciate what he did to get me and my grandma down," Antonio Warfield said.

Their home is gone but they have each other.