| Hugh billows of smoke lifted into the early morning sky from the backwoods of Crummies Creek this morning, with the occupants of a house barely escaping with their lives.
"Nathan saved our lives," said Nancy Rush and Bradley Roberts, whose hair was scorched when they fled the burning inferno. The young man had spent the night in the dwelling.
"If it hadn't been for him, they would have died," said Mrs. Shirley Rush. "He lost his new Play-station," she said.
Eight-year-old Nathan Rush, who is a student at Arnoldsburg School, was awakened by flames coming through a wall into a room where he was sleeping.
"He got them awake and ran to our house for help" she said.
A family pet, a black Labrador, died in the blaze.
The dwelling was adjacent to the Shirley Rush residence, which was "scorched" but did not burn.
The dwelling was fully involved when the Arnoldsburg VFD responded after 6:25 a.m.to Rush Mountain, an area near the head of the left fork of Crummies Creek, not far from Sand Ridge.
"They lost everything from clothes to furniture to appliances. They have nothing," said Mrs. Shirley Rush.
Anyone desiring to help the family can call 304-655-8504.
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