A Troy police officer is being hailed a hero after running into a burning building to rescue an 80-year-old woman. Lori Chung has more.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

TROY, N.Y. -- Marlene Ciccarelli said, "She can't stand on her own without so she was trapped up there."

Flames burning and smoke building inside their home, Marlene Ciccarelli says her 80-year-old mother, Gloria Anderson, had no way out.

"We tried to use the stair lift because probably a fuse had blown, the stair lift wouldn't work," Ciccarelli said.

Firefighters got the call around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that there was a fire at 334 4th Avenue with someone trapped inside on the second floor. But it was a Troy police officer patrolling nearby who sprang into action in the nick of time.

Ciccarelli said, "A police officer came immediately. I saw him run in from the corner. He ran and from what I understand, he carried her down."

Fortunately, firefighters arrived shortly, after saying it likely started in that second floor ceiling.

Troy Police Department Assistant Chief James Hughes said, "The fire appears to have burned for awhile undetected, but the guys were aggressive, got inside, got to the fire."

Caroline Boardman, Communications Director for Northeastern New York Red Cross said, "We're looking to get them some temporary lodging and find out if they need financial aid for food and clothing. We're also looking to find a place for their dog."

Though forced out of their damaged home for now, Ciccarelli says everything she needs is in this van.

"Material things don't matter, as long as everybody's okay, we're blessed and we just thank God," Ciccarelli said.

That officer is identified as Walter Tague. The family tells us they're thankful that he was nearby when the fire broke out and acted as quickly as he did.