San Diego

Firefighters Tuesday credited five Southeast San Diego residents with saving the life of a 53-year-old man who apparently fell asleep while smoking and was carried from his burning apartment. San Diego Fire Department spokesman Bob Radder said the five rescued Horas Dixon, 848 33rd St., about 2:25 p.m. All five live near Dixon. Radder said that Cheryl Field and Helen King, both 30, extinguished the blaze using garden hoses as Louis Parker Jr., 33, broke a window and carried Dixon out of the smoke-filled apartment. Parker handed Dixon to Icie Hale, 75, and Jim Pegg, 72, who attended Dixon until firefighters arrived. Dixon was taken by helicopter to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he was reported in fair condition late Tuesday with smoke inhalation.