A sanitation worker in Hazel Dell is credited with saving the life of an 88-year-old woman from a fire Thursday.

Robert Wilson was driving his route picking up recyclables when he smelled smoke around 7:20 a.m.

He’d been on the job just two months, but said he knew something was wrong.

KGW photo

He scanned the roofs of the quiet neighborhood and spotted whisps of smoke rising in three places above one roof.

“For a slight second, I thought maybe it was the morning dew from the early morning sun coming up,” he said.

“Then I started to take a look at the other roofs and they were not looking the same."

He ran across the street to pound on the door. No one answered.

Wilson ran to a nearby neighbor’s house. The neighbor told Wilson that Ruth Anne Green, an elderly woman with limited mobility, was inside the burning home.

Wilson called 9-1-1 and fire crews made it to the home in just under four minutes. They broke through the front door and helped Green to safety.

Vancouver Fire District 6 spokeswoman Leah Edwards said Green stayed cool and calm, and “really appreciated” the garbage man’s efforts.

Edwards called Wilson, the garbage man, a hero.

“Robert is a hero,” she said.

“He absolutely is,” said Edwards.

She said the smoldering fire could have easily filled the home with toxic smoke before Green had a chance to call for help.

Wilson said he felt great as he watched rescue crews bring the elderly woman to safety.

“You know when I saw the firemen bring her out the door I could tell that she was shaken up,” said Wilson.

“But she was in very good condition so I was very happy about the outcome,” he said.

Firefighters found a blaze in the attic which was caused by an electrical short in a bathroom light fixture.

Damage is estimated at $10,000.

Green is being housed in an area hotel with help from the Red Cross.