WARREN - A day on the job Monday had mail carrier Tom Nehlen joking he'd be reconsidering his career path.

That morning, he helped herd a family out of a burning home on Logan Avenue S.E. That afternoon, he called 911 after witnessing a boy ride his bike into the side of a van at Laird Avenue and Atlantic Street.

After his shift, he was hoping for a safe drive home to Bazetta.

"I've been in the military," said Nehlen, 35. "I said, I'm just a mailman now. They say these things work in three. That's why I'm going the back way home."

Just before 10 a.m., Nehlen was delivering on his route when he got to 148 Logan Ave. S.E. There, he saw smoke billowing from a window. According to Fire Department reports, a 3-year-old boy had been playing with a lighter and ignited a mattress in a first floor bedroom. There were no working smoke detectors in the home, reports state.

Nehlen said that he, along with a neighbor, entered a side door into the smoky kitchen. The residents were in that room, and the two helped them from the house. Everyone was out of the home when firefighters arrived, and the blaze was put out quickly. Fire Chief Ken Nussle said the blaze caused about $15,000 on damage.

The parents were listed in the report as Alberta Golden and Charles Stover. They could not be reached for comment Monday.

"At least everyone was safe," said Nehlen. "I never met them before. I just delivered their mail."

About 2:30 p.m., while delivering mail on the city's northeast side, Nehlen witnessed a 12-year-old boy ride his bike into the side of a van at Atlantic Street N.E. and Laird Avenue N.E.

"I was the second vehicle in line (behind the accident)," he said. "I had to call 911. I put the kid's head up on his bookbag in case he had head injuries."

According to Warren police reports, the boy was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Health Center with minor injuries. A name was not available.

Nehlen said he's had his current route for about one month.

"I thought, this is bizarre," said Nehlen.

dloreno@tribtoday.com