Two Suquamish police officers were honored by North Kitsap Fire & Rescue leadership at the department’s board meeting Nov. 25 for rescuing an occupant from a September house fire.
The occupant survived and continues to recover, an NKF&R news release states. The officers were presented with certificates and received a standing ovation from the district’s commissioners and chief officers.
On Sept. 26, firefighters from NKF&R, as well as the Bainbridge and Poulsbo fire departments, were called to a Harris Avenue home in Suquamish at 10:42 a.m. after a medical alarm company reported a fire to Kitsap 911, per the release. Suquamish deputy chief Tommy Nance and detective sergeant James Dean responded, arriving within two minutes to find smoke coming from the home and someone inside yelling for help.
Although an NKF&R station is just a couple of blocks away, that crew was busy with an ambulance transport. So the two officers pulled the occupant, who was on the floor just inside the front door, to safety on the porch as the first fire units arrived about seven minutes after dispatch. The occupant suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. One of the officers was taken to St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale where he was treated and released.
“Without the quick response of the SPD officers, the outcome could have been much worse for the home’s occupant,” NKF&R fire chief Rick LaGrandeur said. “We value our partnerships with law enforcement every day but I’m especially grateful for these officers’ actions that day.”
Dean has worked in law enforcement for about eight years, serving the last four with SPD. Nance started his career as a reserve officer with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office before joining SPD about 25 years ago. He has also served as a volunteer with NKF&R for over 10 years.
Less than 20 minutes after their arrival, firefighters had the fire under control. Still, the 1,000-square-foot single-story house sustained considerable smoke, heat and water damage, per the release. An investigator from the Kitsap fire marshal’s office, based on witness statements and physical evidence at the scene, believes the fire started when flammable materials and the occupant’s medical oxygen tank came into contact with an open flame.
Family members said the occupant continues to recover in a care facility. A roommate, not home at the time of the fire, was also displaced and received assistance from the American Red Cross.
In general, officials warn that entering a burning building is dangerous and may even be counterproductive. “Fire grows very rapidly and rescuers without the proper equipment can succumb in a matter of seconds to the resulting heat and toxic gases,” LaGrandeur said. He adds that opening doors or windows often speed a fire’s growth by increasing its supply of fresh air. “In most cases, it’s best to wait for properly trained and equipped firefighters.”
