SANFORD, Fla. -- One of the eyewitnesses to Tuesday's fiery crash became a rescuer. Ryan Cooper, an off-duty Lake Mary firefighter and paramedic, raced into action as soon as he saw the impact.

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VIDEO: Firefighter Saves Two After Crash

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Cooper grabbed his firefighting gear and was able to save his neighbor and his neighbor's son, before he was overcome by smoke. But, he was unable to save another child, in the house.

Cooper, who was in stable condition Tuesday afternoon, had everything with him except his breathing apparatus and that's why doctors want to watch him. He inhaled smoke and jet fuel fumes.

Hero is the word those closest to Cooper would use to describe him, and they know he did all he could to save his neighbors, but he wouldn't say the same of himself.

Cooper had just finished up a shift for a fellow firefighter when he became an eyewitness to tragedy. He saw an airplane crash into his neighbor's house. That's when, Cooper's chief said, the firefighter grabbed his gear and headed inside of a home already in flames.

"He was able to bring the father out and one of the children out of the home. He continued to search in that home. Without his air pack, he couldn't get to the second floor where the plane impacted," explained Chief Craig Haun, Lake Mary Fire Rescue.

Nor could Cooper reach a second child who was in the house. But, before he was finally overcome by smoke and fumes, Cooper searched through a second house searching for survivors.

"He's a great guy. There's not a guy in the department that wouldn't put his life in their hands or the lives of their children. He's a great asset to our company, without a doubt," said Devin Chapman, Lake Mary Fire Rescue.

Cooper is expected to make a full recovery. At one point, Tuesday, sources said he was on a respirator.

Tuesday, there was a lot of support shown for him, not just from his own family and friends, but his fellow co-workers, as well.