Deputy saves elderly man from burning house in Richmond County
RICHMOND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A deputy with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office reportedly saved a man who was trapped inside a burning building on Monday. At 7:25 p.m. on Dec. 9, a deputy received a call for "a 9-11 abandoned line," according to a social media post from Sheriff Stephan Smith. While the deputy was en route, he received an update from dispatch, explaining that the emergency caller had called back and said he was stuck inside a house that was on fire. "Deputy Sanchez activated his emergency equipment near Rappahannock High School and continued to the scene," the social post reads. "Once on scene, Deputy Sanchez observed a single-story residential structure fire with apparent fire on the A side roof." According to the post, the deputy was able to see a flashlight "waving in a circular motion," signaling that someone was trapped inside. The deputy then used his extendable baton to open the door without burning his hands and found "an elderly male who seemed panicked and confused." The deputy told the man to leave the residence but he seemed unable to comply, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. The deputy then entered the residence and grabbed the man before reportedly ushering him to safety. According to the social post, medical units arrived shortly after the man had been safely evacuated and he was taken to the nearest landing zone to be med-flighted out. "This is just one of many examples of what my officers do daily," Smith said in the social post. "Richmond County is blessed to have officers working for them who put themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others."
VENN
RICHMOND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A deputy with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office reportedly saved a man who was trapped inside a burning building on Monday.
At 7:25 p.m. on Dec. 9, a deputy received a call for "a 9-11 abandoned line," according to a social media post from Sheriff Stephan Smith.
While the deputy was en route, he received an update from dispatch, explaining that the emergency caller had called back and said he was stuck inside a house that was on fire.
"Deputy Sanchez activated his emergency equipment near Rappahannock High School and continued to the scene," the social post reads. "Once on scene, Deputy Sanchez observed a single-story residential structure fire with apparent fire on the A side roof."
According to the post, the deputy was able to see a flashlight "waving in a circular motion," signaling that someone was trapped inside. The deputy then used his extendable baton to open the door without burning his hands and found "an elderly male who seemed panicked and confused."
The deputy told the man to leave the residence but he seemed unable to comply, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. The deputy then entered the residence and grabbed the man before reportedly ushering him to safety.
According to the social post, medical units arrived shortly after the man had been safely evacuated and he was taken to the nearest landing zone to be med-flighted out.
"This is just one of many examples of what my officers do daily," Smith said in the social post. "Richmond County is blessed to have officers working for them who put themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others."
