Hero firefighter describes running in to save lives after East Village explosion

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Among the stories of heroism emerging after the East Village explosion is that of an off-duty firefighter who did all he could to make sure everyone got out of the burning building.

Mike Shepherd began climbing the fire escape to search for potential victims. Shepard, with FDNY Engine 41 in the Bronx, went floor to floor opening windows, even as smoke began to pour from the building.

"There's an old saying, I was scared but I did it anyways. You just hope that it's not your time," he said.

As a third generation firefighter, Shepherd says springing into action during an emergency is in his blood.

He had just finished grabbing a bite to eat when he heard, felt and saw the explosion, and desperately searched for people trapped inside.

"I was yelling, is anybody in there? Come to the window, and then I went to the next floor and the next floor. You didn't hear anything. No there was nobody in there. nobody home," said Shepherd.

In the panic he managed to calm a woman down and showed her how to release the fire escape ladder, getting her to safety. From there he went floor to floor, searching through the heavy smoke.

With no protective gear, the firefighter did everything he could. "I wish we could've gone in there and located one of the victims. It's a little disheartening when you try as much as you can and you find out somebody else is in there," said Sheperd.

Mike says he just kept thinking about his wife and kids as he risked his life to save others.

"When you're making these decisions you think there are people counting on you, I got to get home," he said.