3 Brook Park Police Officers Rescue Woman from Smoke-Filled Home

Sometimes, you're at the right place at the right time. This proved to be the case for three Brook Park Police officers when a call came in just as they headed out for their day shift. "We had just finished roll call when the call came over the radio," Officer Mark Nikodym explained. He and his fellow patrolmen, Officers John Ogle and David Swaffield, immediately drove to the scene, a home less than a mile away from the police station. 

Officer John Ogle was the first to arrive. When asked what was going through his mind when he entered the smoke-filled home without protective gear, Ogle responded, "You don't really think. You know, instinctively, if someone needs help you're just going to go in there and help them." The woman's family, who were outside the home, told Ogle their mother, who had mobility issues and was unable to leave the home without assistance, was in the bedroom. Inside, the smoke was so thick he could barely see two feet in front of him. When he reached the bedroom, Ogle found furniture and other items blocking the path out and began clearing the way.

Officer Swaffield entered right behind him, followed by Officer Nikodym and the Fire Chief. Officer Swaffield was able to pick the woman up from underneath the arms as the Fire Chief took her legs and together they carried out her out to the fire department's stretcher. 

The woman was taken to the hospital to receive care, while the three police officers were checked on the scene by the fire department to make sure their oxygen and carbon monoxide levels were normal. The officers were cleared. While the woman did breathe in some smoke, she avoided any major injuries due to the quick actions of the officers.

The smoke was thought to be caused by a build up of carbon in the home's furance. The Police Chief joins the Fire Department in urging the community to keep up with the regular maintenance of HVAC systems and smoke alarms.