By Gregor Elgee, Northwest Region
Whidbey Island resident Tim Nettlebeck started his December morning like any other — taking out the garbage. When he lifted a neighbor’s bin lid to see if had missed the pickup, he turned… and saw flames breaking through the side of a nearby home.
He yelled for his wife to call 911 and ran toward the burning house. Tim pushed through the front door but was blinded by thick, black smoke. He knew his neighbor’s back door was usually left unlocked, so he rushed around to try again. Inside was his neighbor Mike’s brother-in-law, Matt, who often slept during the day. Shaking wasn’t enough to wake him — so Tim slapped him hard enough to get him up. Outside, Tim’s wife watched the fire intensify and screamed for him to get out. Both men narrowly escaped, coughing heavily from the thick smoke.
“Maybe I’m not very smart, but I did it without thinking. I just did it. I had to do it,” said Tim to reporters.
Homeowners Mike and Krystal, who had been at a medical appointment for Krystal’s cancer diagnosis, returned to their home to devastating news — but also with relief that Mike’s brother-in-law was alive.
“Tim’s an angel — definitely a hero. If he hadn’t been home, my brother wouldn’t have made it,” said Mike.
Not long after firefighters arrived, Red Cross teams were already on the scene — with blankets, basic supplies, emergency funds, and urgently needed medication replacements so Krystal wouldn’t miss a dose during her cancer treatment. The house is gone now, but the family plans to rebuild in the same neighborhood — surrounded by the people who stepped up when it mattered most.
“They don’t make ’em like him anymore. He’s 100% your friend and neighbor,” said Krystal.
How the Red Cross Helps After Home Fires
Although Tim didn’t expect to be a hero that day — when help was needed, he was there.
Every day, the Red Cross responds to nearly 200 home fires across the country — some of which are tipped off by heroes like Tim.
When families lose everything, the Red Cross can provide:
When disaster strikes, the Red Cross makes sure no one faces it alone.You can support neighbors like Mike and Krystal who have experienced a home loss by making a donation or becoming a volunteer today:
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
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