First responders are being hailed as heroes after saving a wheelchair-bound man from a house fire.
The incident happened on Wednesday morning at approximately 8:45 on East 5th Street in London when the London Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire with a wheelchair-bound man trapped inside the home.
Upon firefighters and London police officers arriving at the scene, they “encountered a structure completely filled with smoke, making visibility extremely limited,” according to London Mayor Randall Weddle.
“Despite the dangerous conditions, Battalion Chief Brandon Wagers of the London City Fire Department, along with Chief Bobby Day, Capt. Ryan Jackson, Lt. Drew Jackson, Lt. Troy Truett, Sgt. Ryan Jackson, Sgt. John Inman, Officer Hobie Daugherty, and Officer Eric Wilkerson, navigated through the smoke-filled residence in search of the individual,” Weddle said.
First responders soon located the man, who was trapped in a bedroom that was engulfed in flames, including the bed the man was on.
“Without hesitation, the team carried the man out of the burning room and brought him safely outside to awaiting EMS personnel,” according to Weddle.
Weddle added that the victim suffered burns “across his body and suffered from smoke inhalation.” He was treated at the scene before being transported to St. Joseph Health in London.
“The city of London commends the rapid, courageous, and selfless actions of all personnel involved in the rescue, whose bravery undoubtedly saved a life,” Weddle proclaimed.
(Photo: First responders outside a home in London after carrying a wheelchair-bound man from his burning residence, courtesy of London Mayor Randall Weddle)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
