Timonium Resident, State Trooper Honored for Saving Woman's Life

Timonium man Frank Rhodes wasn't thinking of the awards or "hero" gossip he'd receive when he pulled his neighborhood out of her burning home.

"It was kind of strange and almost unreal," he said, describing what it was like Tuesday night, walking across a stage in front of an auditorium filled with firefighters awaiting to shake the County Executive's hand.

"To me, I was just being a neighbor," he said.

Rewind the clock back to last September. It was a dreary Thursday night. Rhodes remembers clearly it was a Thursday because he was looking forward to watching the Baltimore Ravens stomp the visiting Cleveland Browns.

That's when he heard and saw his neighbor from across the street, Maryland State Trooper David Feltman, running to the home next door. The home of their neighbor, .

READ: and the community that came together to help.

"They had just moved into the neighborhood. They didn't even know her [Karla]," Rhodes said.

Feltman's wife Amy had run out of her home, as well.

They watched as Feltman checked the front door for heat before he kicked it in.

"I don't know if I could've done that," Rhodes said.

The flames from Blackwell's house were now "two feet" away from Rhodes's home. Rhodes ran between houses making sure his children were away from the windows, while Feltman found a semi-conscious Blackwell on her kitchen floor. 

Feltman called for Rhodes to help.

"It was scary, but adrenaline just kicks in," Rhodes said.

Feltman grabbed Blackwell's arms. Rhodes grabbed the woman's feet. Together they hoisted her out of her burning home.

Blackwell was tended to by firefighters who managed to get the fire under control rather quickly.

Blackwell will be moving back into her newly-remodeled home on Aylesbury Road soon, according to Rhodes who has kept in touch with the woman who is now living with her daughter in Harford County.

And she has two courageous neighbors to thank when she gets home.