If Officer Kevin Long had arrived on the scene much later than he did, things could have ended terribly indeed.
On June 16, reports about a residential fire were received by the police and fire departments of Evesham, New Jersey, whose swift response at about 4 p.m. saw police Officer Long arrive first on the scene at a home on the 1800 block of Sagemore Drive.
From outside, he saw smoke.
Footage from Officer Long’s body camera captured the tense moments of the harrowing incident, from his arrival to his daring rescue attempt and its aftermath.
On the move, he is heard cutting short his words with a neighbor as he approaches a townhouse before keying his radio, quickening his pace, and informing his teammates: “I got smoky conditions, smoky conditions.”
Soon, smoky conditions are what we are seeing vividly through Officer Long’s body camera as he barrels toward an open door, yelling: “Hey, you alright, you alright?!”
A smoke detector beeps and the outline of an older woman emerges from the haze engulfing the home as Officer Long yells for her to “get out!” and ushers her to do so with his hands, guiding her, though he knows there is someone still inside: “Sir, where you at?!”
Blinded by the smoke, he braves the sooty air, entering the domicile and finding an elderly man seated in a chair. “I can’t walk,” the elderly man tells him. Neither can the officer move the man, as the hallway is filled with the clutter of a heavy electric wheelchair, though he is able to back it out the front door with some effort before returning for the man still trapped inside.
The sounds of coughing and the officer yelling are joined by the sight of him reentering and taking hold of the chair, where the elderly man is still sitting. Officer Long drags him backwards down the hall and out the front door. All safe outside, the officer collapses onto the grass in a fit of coughing.
The department said that the two occupants were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries while Officer Long suffered smoke inhalation, but after a quick trip to the hospital for a check up, he was released.
Evesham Fire-Rescue Quint 2235 arrived within six minutes of being dispatched, police stated, and were able to contain the blaze to the kitchen, preventing damage to the five adjoining units. The inhabitants were allowed to return to their charred but intact home after the incident.
The local fire marshal and police department are investigating the cause of the fire, police stated.
“The coordinated efforts by the Evesham Police and Fire Departments underscore their commitment to public safety and the well-being of the Evesham community,” the department stated. “Their bravery and quick action in the face of danger saved a life and minimized damage, reflecting the highest standards of public service.”
