Updated

The mayor of Paulsboro was on his way to Trenton for Gov. Chris Christie’s state of the state address and some meetings. Instead, Gary Stevenson ended up helping save a life during a fire that destroyed a house.

SKYFOX was over the scene on the 100 block of W. Broad Street, at about 9:30am Tuesday.

Mayor Stevenson -- who was fire chief for 12 years -- told FOX 29 News he saw white smoke and it started getting blacker, and he noticed flames as he got closer.

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The mayor said he stopped at the house and the doors were locked so he started banging.

That’s when someone came up and said he thought a girl may be inside, but apparently his banging woke her up.

Stevenson was able to get her out. Then, he and a few other people checked to make sure nobody else was inside before the place became engulfed.

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