A quick-thinking off-duty police officer is being credited for saving lives at an early morning house fire in East Vancouver.

The Vancouver Police officer was driving past the home on East 28th Avenue around 6:30 a.m. when he noticed the smoke.

Vancouver Fire Rescue says the VPD officer pulled over, called 911, and then helped get people out of the house.

“He made entry into the residence and pulled several people out,” said Fire Capt. Jonathan Gormick, adding that some of the residents were already standing on the lawn when he arrived.

“What he did was absolutely extraordinary.”

There are several suites in the house and some have bars on the windows. Witnesses told CTV Morning Live they needed to break the bars in order to get out.

“He’s a hero. To save someone’s life is a wonderful thing,” Penny Szekely told CTV Vancouver about the VPD officer’s efforts.

Szekely and the officer worked together to smash out the basement windows to help get tenants outside.

“We got seven people out of the top floor and four people out of the basement,” she said.

“It was going pretty fast. In a matter of 10 minutes the whole area was lit right up.”

Tenant John Campeau said he opened his bedroom door to see his entire kitchen up in flames.

“I heard yelling upstairs. My roommate couldn’t open his door,” Campeau said, adding that he escaped by kicking out a window.

The home was completely gutted by flames, and the structure partially collapsed in the blaze. Gormick said the home would not be habitable until a restoration company completed work. Emergency Social Services has been brought in to provide shelter for people without insurance.

“I’m thankful he helped out,” said homeowner Sally Ulanday.

“I’m thankful for [the] people who helped keep us safe.”

Knight Street, a key commuter route into Vancouver, was closed in both directions for several hours as crews worked to extinguish the flames.

A column of smoke rising into the sky could be seen as far away as the downtown core.

The smoke also caused a visual distraction for drivers coming into the city.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.