Ron Mahan, a 1980 Seneca Valley graduate, intervened to hold off flames at a house he passed on the way home from work, and kept at it until firefighters arrived. Submitted Photo

Scott Cukovich for a decade has owned his Brownsdale Road, Forward Township, home with his wife, Jamie. He had burned some leaves Nov. 5, but made sure they were out before he left to go hunting.

Or so he thought.

The leaves reignited and caught the couple’s attached garage and carport on fire.

Enter Ron Mahan, who was driving home to Brighton Heights, Beaver County, after a 10-hour shift at his job as a plan engineer in Valencia.

“I saw black smoke rolling around ahead of me,” Mahan said. “Then I saw the whole carport and side of the garage on fire.”

Tired from his shift, Mahan could have called 911 and kept going, allowing professionals to deal with the situation.

But that’s not in the nature of this unassuming 1980 Seneca Valley graduate.

Mahan and another motorist made U-turns and returned to the burning garage and carport.

Mahan told the other motorist to pound on the single-story home’s door and yet another person on the scene to call 911.

“I grabbed the first garden hose I saw and started hosing,” he said.

Mahan had served as a volunteer firefighter with Evans City Volunteer Fire Department, so he knew just where to direct the stream of water, inadequate though it was, to try and hold off major flames until firefighters arrived.

“I tried to keep the garage from going down,” he said nonchalantly.

The other motorist, after having banged on the home’s door and alerted Jamie to the situation, grabbed another hose in the back and also began spraying the flames.

“I was there a good 40 minutes,” Mahan said. “I stuck around to watch (firefighters) put it out the rest of the way.”

Asked to draw on his 40-year firefighting experience to predict what would have happened had he and the other man not stopped that day, Mahan doesn’t hesitate.

“The house would have been gone,” he said. “The whole side of the garage was lit up. The overhang was burnt up, and the gutters burned off.”

Mahan could have called 911 and kept driving after his long Saturday shift, but he instantly decided to stop and help.

“That’s the whole problem with the world anymore,” he said. “I’m committed to helping anyone, especially someone in need.”

The Cukoviches lost the carport and have damage to one garage wall and the garage attic, as well as some contents stored inside.

“We would have lost a lot more,” he said of Mahan’s decision to stay and douse the flames as best he could. “I’m totally grateful. With all the things going on in this world, you’d think people wouldn’t be so nice, but there’s some nice ones out there.”

Cukovich said he called Mahan last week and thanked him profusely.

“Everyone came together,” he said. “My neighbor came down too.”

Cukovich still is dealing with the insurance company and does not have a damage estimate yet.

“Mr. Mahan said, ‘Pay it forward someday’...” Cukovich said.

Mahan said he would do the same thing again.

“I’m glad his garage and his house were saved,” he said.