Melville mother and son save widow from burning home
Melville residents Natechia Campbell-Moss and her son Jovani Moss, pictured with Suffolk County Legis. Tom Donnelly, left, were recognized by the Suffolk County Legislature for rescuing an elderly neighbor from her burning home. Credit: The Office of Legis. Tom Donnell
A Melville mother and son have been recognized for rescuing an elderly neighbor from her burning home.
Natechia Campbell-Moss, 46, and her son Jovani Moss, 15, alerted authorities and helped escort a disoriented woman out of her two-story home on Leighton Court before firefighters arrived on the morning of March 31.
The pair were later honored by the Suffolk County Legislature, which issued them a special proclamation in April for “heroism and quick-thinking,” according to Legis. Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park). They were also honored by the Town of Huntington on June 9.
“I went outside to go to school and when I glanced over to my neighbor’s house I saw smoke coming out of the back side of the house,” said Moss, who is finishing his freshman year at Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills. “I called my mom and . . . called 911.”
Campbell-Moss said she rushed to the neighbor’s home wearing only her nightgown, banging on the front door and ringing the doorbell in an effort to alert her neighbor to the fire. She said she received no response.
The woman, who was not identified by authorities, is a widow in her 70s who did not hear the knocking because she was not wearing her hearing aide, Campbell-Moss said.
“I started to kick the door while on the phone with 911, and they told me to continue kicking and banging on the windows,” said Campbell-Moss, who works as a patient service representative for Mount Sinai Doctors and runs a custom baking business called Techia’s Cake World.
Within minutes, Campbell-Moss forced the door open and found the groggy woman in the home’s foyer. She guided her safely outside, but the woman broke free and ran back inside to retrieve her cat and jewelry.
Campbell-Moss followed her and again safely escorted her outside, she said.
Donnelly praised the mother-son team for their courage.
“Jovani and Natechia remained calm, acted decisively and demonstrated tremendous courage,” Donnelly said in a news release. “Their willingness to step forward and help a neighbor in need reflects the very best of our community.”
Nominate a Long Islander who goes above and beyond or serves as an inspiration to their community. Send details and photograph to Michael Ebert, michael.ebert@newsday.com (photos should be high-resolution). Photos may be used in other publications affiliated with Newsday.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
