Photo: Image of home on fire| North Sacramento CHP
In the early hours of April 4, 2023, two officers from the local police department went beyond the call of duty to save two individuals trapped in a burning house. Officers Nelson and Adams were on routine patrol when they spotted smoke emanating from a residential area. They followed the source of the smoke to a house that was fully engulfed in flames, with neighbors shouting that people were trapped inside.
Without any hesitation, both officers approached the burning house, and amidst the flames, they could hear cries for help coming from the backyard. A large locked and bolted fence obstructed their entry, but Officer Nelson managed to break down the gate after several attempts. They then made their way through a wall of fire to reach the backyard, where they heard the trapped parties screaming for help from a metal shed.
Officer Nelson opened the shed, but it was also engulfed in flames, and the trapped individuals were severely injured. The intense heat and flames at the doorway made it impossible to extract the victims. However, Officer Nelson was determined to rescue them, and he requested assistance from a firefighter who was already wearing a full SCBA fire suit.
The firefighter was able to reach the trapped parties due to the SCBA and fire suit and extract both individuals. Both victims were then rushed to the hospital for treatment, and Officer Nelson and Adams sustained minor injuries in the process. They were treated at the scene and quickly returned to duty.
