The fast action of a concerned citizen probably saved the life of a Crawfordville couple who were sleeping in their home July 16 while a motor home parked outside their door turned into a burning inferno, according to Sheriff David Harvey.

Rosa L. Burdette of Crawfordville was driving past the home of Thomas J. Colligan on Hiada Trail at 12:02 a.m. when she stopped to render assistance. Deputy Ward Kromer was dispatched to the scene and observed a motor home fully engulfed in flames close to the house.

The victim told Deputy Kromer that he and his wife were awakened by Burdette who shouted for them to get out of their home as the RV fire raged on. The victim got his wife and dog and moved their vehicles away from the home. Colligan said he and his wife owed their lives to Burdette’s bravery.

Burdette spotted the fire as she was driving by and made sure the couple was awake. After they were awakened, she grabbed Colligan’s cell phone and made an emergency call to 911.

The Wakulla County Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the flames. The RV, valued at $10,000, was a total loss. The residence suffered minor damage due to the extreme heat exposure. Two light fixtures were damaged, several pieces of vinyl siding melted and a number of windows were cracked.

Firefighters said the motor home fire was electrical in nature which may have been caused by a lightning strike. The blaze was ruled accidental.