Off-duty police officer and off-duty firefighter rescue occupants from Montgomery County house fire
COLESVILLE, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - An off-duty police officer and an off-duty firefighter helped rescue several people from a burning house in Montgomery County. Officials say the fire was reported between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on Stanley Lane in the Colesville area.
FOX 5 spoke with Lt. Wesley Owens, the off-duty firefighter who spotted the smoke while he was driving to work. Owens said he pulled over and called 911 and could already see that the police officer had gone into the house and helped a woman out. As Owens made his way to the home he said the officer went back in and helped a disabled man to the door.
"He legitimately put his life on the line," Owens said about the officer. He said smoke poured out of the doorway as the officer helped the man to safety. "He did and amazing job."
The heavy blaze was quickly placed under control shortly after firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported. Owens said he alerted other firefighters to a room that contained ammunition and gunpowder.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Traffic delays can be expected around the area near Stanley Lane, Bregman Road and New Hampshire Avenue until firefighters leave the scene.