The community is applauding the heroism of two Plano police officers that saved a 5-year-old boy from a burning home.
Around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, a fire was reported in the 5600 block of Gillum Drive in Plano, TX. Officers Russell Harris and Mark Jones were in the area and were able to respond, quickly- beating fire crews to the scene of a large, two-story home fire. When the officers arrived, a frantic homeowner told them that her 5-year-old son was trapped inside. The mother told police that she had tried go back in, but couldn’t get past the flames.
Harris and Jones ran around back and saw the boy waving his arms out a second-story window. A neighbor came over with a ladder and the officers immediately climbed up to rescue him. According to fire officials, Harris smashed a window and grabbed the boy from the smoke-filled room.
About this time, fire crews began arriving. Paramedics treated the boy at the scene and later transported him to a local hospital where he was treated for severe smoke inhalation. He is expected to make a full recovery. The mother is being treated for burns at a separate hospital and is also expected to recover just fine.
The house, however, was significantly damaged in the fire. Fire investigators are still working to learn the cause of the fire.
It was reported that Plano Fire-Rescue personnel arrived less than five minutes after the call came in. So the two officers were able to evaluate the situation and rescue the boy within 5 minutes!
Plano Fire-Rescue Captain Jack Sides was quoted on the scene saying, “The officers made some quick decisions… their rescue is paramount to this child’s survival.”
(Source: WFAA & FOX4)