Fire Chief calls 3 people heroes in tense Golden Valley rescue

PHOTOS:

(3) a: The aftermath following an intense rescue effort of the resident.

(4) a: Firefighter protects the car inside the garage from the intense flames of the house fire.

Golden Valley Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue is calling some local residents “true heroes” for acts of bravery today at a structure fire located at 5324 Destiny Way.  Firefighters were dispatched to a residential fire Friday morning at 7:38 and arrived less than two-minutes later to report a “Fully involved structure fire with exposures”. Moments later the Chief told incoming units there were reports of people trapped inside, and confirmed this when he went to the back side of the home and discovered a neighbor who had entered the home to help the 92 year old female occupant.  “The woman was being held up by a window to get fresh air as black smoke was filling her room” said O’Donohue.  The man inside, 48 year old neighbor Robert Davies had entered the bedroom when he heard screams from the woman. Neighbor Paul Bissonette, a member of the local Neighborhood Watch assisted in breaking the windows and pointing rescuers to the proper location.  Off duty Golden Valley Fire Captain Steve Winn was outside as well, helping hold the woman up because she was too weak to hold herself near the open window.  Since no fire engines had arrived yet, O’Donohue said he had no other choice but to enter the smoke filled room to assist.  “We could see the fire which had begun burning through the bedroom door, but if we didn’t act now we would have to watch a woman die in front of our eyes”.  O’Donohue and Davies struggled with the large woman, moving her closer to a bed to gain leverage from its height due to extra high windowsills. O’Donohue said Davies looked at the bedroom door and said; “The fire is in the room now”, and O’Donohue realized there was but seconds until the room would experience a ”Flashover” where all the contents suddenly erupt in flame.  O’Donohue said to Davies and the nearly unconscious woman; “We’ve got to make this push count” and they pushed the woman up and over the nearly 5-foot high windowsill into the waiting arms of Winn and Bissonette.  Davies was the next out, followed by Chief O’Donohue who said; “When we hit the ground and looked back, I saw heavy flames were coming out of the window, spelling certain death for any occupants.  O’Donohue said it took less than 7-minutes from dispatch until the occupant was rescued to safety.  “This was as close as you can come and still come out alive” O’Donohue said, giving “true hero status” to Davies who risked his life for his neighbor. In a follow-up interview, Davies shared the credit calling it a “Team effort” as did the others involved.  The home was about 75% involved in fire when Firefighters arrived in less than 2-minutes, so the home and contents are considered a total loss.  In all, there were three injuries; the 92 year old female occupant, rescuer Robert Davies who refused treatment after evaluation by paramedics and Chief O’Donohue who was seen at KRMC for smoke inhalation. Fire Officials warn residents to have several working smoke detectors, and an escape plan in case of fire.