Overview

• On August 9, officers crawled through heavy smoke into a burning residence on the 8400 block of N. Highlands Ave. to save a man trapped feet from the front door.
• The dramatic rescue was captured on an officer’s body-worn camera and posted on the department’s Instagram, garnering widespread praise for first-responder bravery.
• One officer crawled low beneath roaring flames to grasp the man’s ankles and drag him toward safety through intense heat.
• Police Chief Lee Bercaw lauded the officers for their fearless response and said their swift actions “saved a life” without any serious injuries.
• Viewers commended the rescue on social media and sparked suggestions for police to carry portable oxygen tanks for future fire responses.