Two people escaped from a house fire uninjured early Sunday with the help of a good Samaritan who woke them and alerted them that their house was in flames, officials said.
The fire was reported about 6:40 a.m. at a house at Nearglen Avenue and Stephanie Drive in an unincorporated county just outside of Covina, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said.
But two people asleep inside the house were unaware the structure was on fire, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Grall said. A passerby stopped and pounded on their door and windows to get their attention let them know they were in danger.
Cindy LoPresto, 57, of Covina said she was driving home after picking up a newspaper when she saw smoke coming from the house.
After rushing to the home, it appeared the back patio was on fire, she said. And a man and women were sleeping inside the home.
LoPresto said she began pounding on the door and windows of the home to rouse the residents.
“I was yelling at them that their house was on fire,” she said.
The couple awoke and managed to get out of the burning home, along with a pet dog.
Firefighters encountered heavy smoke coming from all of the home’s doors and windows when they arrived at the scene, Peters said. The fire was extinguished at 7:01 a.m.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, Grall said. No injuries were reported.

PHOTOS courtesy of Cindy LoPresto of Covina