JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- An off-duty Air Force cop rescued a disabled man from a burning home Nov. 3.
Senior Airman Christopher Taylor, assigned to 802nd Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, was getting ready for work when someone banged on his door.
“I went to see what the commotion was about and saw that it was my neighbor from across the street,” Taylor said.
Frantically, the neighbor said their house had caught fire and that their disabled uncle was trapped inside.
“I didn’t hesitate,” Taylor said. “I had to get save this man.”
The moment the Airman entered the house, he was overcome by thick smoke. He dropped to his knees and started crawling.
“When I found him, he was in the center of the house, approximately 20 feet from the door,” Taylor said.
As the fire continued to burn, the Airman said he only had one thought, “get out!”
By the time Taylor got the man out of the house and dragged him to safety, the fire department had already been notified and was on its way.
An ambulance transported the victim to San Antonio Military Medical Complex where he was treated for minor burns on the left side of his body and severe smoke inhalation.
FAST FACT:
According to the National Fire Protection Association, people are twice as likely to die from smoke inhalation than burns during a fire. Staying as low as possible while quickly trying to exit a burning building can help buy you time from smoke inhalation.