Lunenburg deputies save bedridden person from burning home

LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Two Lunenburg County sheriff's deputies saved a bedridden person from a burning home last week.

On Monday, Feb. 10, a little after 4 p.m., deputies of the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office were called to a house fire in the 100 block of Pamplin Road. They were told that a bedridden person was trapped inside.

Two responding deputies -- Howard Philips and Cody Kinker -- arrived before fire crews. According to authorities, they entered through the front but, due to heavy smoke, had to come back out and reassess how they could get to the trapped person.

The deputies had to break through the window to enter and safely rescue the person.

Five people were in the home at the time of the fire. According to authorities, circumstances prevented them from getting the bedridden person out.

None of the other four residents were hurt. The bedridden person was airlifted to a local hospital, but they are expected to make a full recovery, according to authorities.

“As Sheriff of Lunenburg County, I commend Deputies Phillips and Kinker for their bravery and selflessness in risking their own lives to save another," said Sheriff Arthur Townsend in a post on Facebook. "I also extend my gratitude to the responding fire departments and EMS for their prompt and professional efforts in battling the fire. Their combined actions undoubtedly prevented a tragedy.”