BRAINTREE, Mass. (WHDH) -- An off-duty firefighter rescued a woman trapped inside a burning car Monday morning.

Firefighter Eddie McGarry was on his way to work when he saw the smoking car and a driver pinned inside.

“Lifting the feet out, I looked down and could see fire coming out from underneath,” said Eddie McGarry, Chelsea fire captain.

The off-duty Chelsea firefighter was headed north on Route 3 on his way to work Monday morning when he saw a car on fire and ran to join a group already trying to help get the driver out.

“While we’re trying to free her legs, somebody came by with an extinguisher and hit the engine compartment and knocked it down a little bit. It probably bought us some time,” said Captain McGarry.

The driver -- a 29-year-old woman -- was going south on Route 3 and somehow crashed into the trees in the median.

Captain McGarry says the woman was badly pinned into the wrecked car, but the fire was fierce and fast -- he couldn't wait for the Jaws of Life, so the group improvised.

“She came out feet first out of the driver side window. There were several bystanders there ready to help and there was no way I was going to be able to lift her out of the car by myself,” Captain McGarry said.

Captain McGarry says with the help of some brave strangers, they were able to help save a woman's live.

“It wasn’t long after that I looked over and the entire car was fully involved. So you know, just grateful that we were able to get her out,” Captain McGarry said.

The woman suffered head and chest injuries. She was in critical condition at a Boston hospital Tuesday night.