Postal worker saves Vegas man from fire

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997 | 11:20 a.m.

A U.S. Postal Service carrier is being credited with rousing a Las Vegas man from his home and notifying him that his house was on fire.

Eddie Dozier said he was delivering mail on his route at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the southeast area of the valley when he saw smoke coming from a house.

Dozier said he pounded on the door and awakened the resident, who was identified as Bob Rossbach. He called the Clark County Fire Department, then tried to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

Rossbach had gotten out of the house safely, he said, but returned with the garden hose. He was overcome by smoke. He was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene.

Dozier said he felt "lucky" for being able to help Rossbach because he had more mail than usual to deliver on his route, which caused him to run late and be at the right place at the right time.

The fire damaged the family room, kitchen and bedroom, said Bob Leinbach, spokesman for the Clark County Fire Department. Damage wasn't yet estimated, he said.

Damage was estimated at $75,000, Leinbach said. The fire was caused from hot ashes taken from the fireplace and left inside the house in a container, he said.