NewsSoutheast Valley NewsMesa News

Actions

Valley man, Ben Maile, dies after rescuing family from fire

Posted at 6:31 PM, Aug 20, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-21 22:02:38-04

The family of a Mesa man who rescued his family from a fire says he’s died from his injuries.

Ben Maile was hospitalized Tuesday along with his wife, Sela.

The Mesa Fire Department said they got a call around 4 a.m. Tuesday about a fire near Stapley Drive and Main Street in Mesa.

Maile’s sister-in-law Stefanie Tai said, "He's the one who got everybody out of the house...and ultimately passed away from it."

When Maile noticed smoke coming from his home, he rushed to get all seven people out safely.

Mesa Fire Cpt. Bob Tribbensee said, "The fire was in the carport and the rear of the house."

Maile rushed back into the home to safe his wife.

They were both taken to the Maricopa County Burn Center, but his injuries were too severe.

"It was sad. I mean you never expect something like that to happen," Tai said.

She added that the husband and wife were best friends.

"They were like two peas in a pod…I know that sounds cliché but that's how they were."

The couple has two young kids. And Tai said Sela knows what's going on even though she's still being treated at the hospital.

Tai said Maile was a caring person who drew people in. “There was over a hundred people here yesterday just broken up about what happened."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The family will try to move forward without the man at the helm who protected them until the end.

"We lost a really good person,” Tai said.

If you would like to help the family with expenses, you can go to any Wells Fargo branch around the country.

The account number is: 1589412400.