Hero Officers Crawl Through Smoke-Filled House To Rescue Unconscious Resident From Fire

Police officers crawled through a smoke-filled house and pulled an unconscious resident from a burning bedroom, rescuing the person before firefighters carried them to safety.

The rescue happened on October 3 at a two-story home on Old Fredericksburg Road. Officer A. Sain was first on scene and entered after reports that people might still be inside.

Officer N. Coffey found a second-floor bedroom locked from the inside, with smoke above and below the door. After opening it with a pocket tool, Coffey crawled through the smoke and flames and found an unresponsive resident on a bed. Sain, Officer M. Beel and Sergeant D. Cole helped move the resident into the hallway.

Firefighter-paramedics took over at the stairs, and additional crews helped carry the resident outside. The resident was taken to UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center before being transferred to a regional burn center.

The Culpeper Police Department said three officers were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries and released that evening. The officers entered without firefighting gear.

Detectives and Virginia State Police arson investigators are investigating the fire. The cause has not been released.