ST CHARLES, Mo. — A firefighter saved two people trapped in a St. Charles fire Sunday morning.
Kevin Drury, an off-duty City of St. Charles Firefighter/paramedic, along with a St. Charles police officer were the first on the scene near the intersection of Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa streets at around 6:30 a.m. Both were aware of the two people trapped inside the home.
Drury heard the emergency call as he was passing the mobile home park on his way to one of St. Charles's fire stations and decided to make a detour.
The first responders opened the door to the home and were met with thick smoke that reached the ceiling and was within eight inches of the floor, according to the firefighter's press release statement.
Drury entered the home calling out to the victims. They responded from a trapped area of the home.
Drury, trying multiple entries, reached the victims and dragged them to the front door. The first responding officers assisted by getting the victims to the first responders with St. Charles police officer.
“Firefighter/Paramedic Drury’s actions this morning without a doubt saved the lives of these two residents. We are very thankful that he and the police officer did not suffer any major injuries,” said Fire Chief George Sheets in a statement Sunday.
Both victims were taken to Mercy Hospital by EMS.
Drury was taken to another area hospital where he was treated and released. He is recovering at home.
About 20-30 firefighters arrived a few minutes after Drury and the police officer were pulling the victims out of the home. St. Charles Fire Captain and public information officer, Kelly Hunsel said that extra lead time saved the lives of those two people.
The smell of smoke still lingered in the air when 5 On Your Side crews were on scene Sunday afternoon. Fire-damaged furniture, boxes, and other items littered the ground outside the home.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Fire crews said it was a hoarding situation, making it even more challenging to get to the victims.
"Folks don't realize that it makes it just as difficult for them to get out and get to safety," said Cpt. Hunsel. "We especially want to remind our residents that you should have two ways out of your home. You should know two ways out."
One of the neighbors Rick Schulz said he was at work nearby at Walgreens when it all happened. However, he got a message from his sister.
"She heard there was a fire by me. I said well this is the first I'm hearing about it. Maybe it was on the other side of the park," Schulz said.
It was not.
Drury, police, and fire crews were pulling out the victims right across the street from Schulz's mobile home.
"I mean what Kevin and those police officers did was nothing short of heroic," said Cpt. Hunsel. "Honestly, even though we were there so quickly on their heels, without them being there and doing what they did, this would be a very different story."
St. Charles Fire wasn't sure if there were working smoke detectors in the home.
They are asking people to make sure their smoke detectors are operational. Plus, to keep anything flammable away from space heaters and not plugged into extension cords to avoid a fire hazard.