COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - In a heroic act, a Columbus police officer rescued a woman from a house fire in the middle of the night.
Officer Michael Coley has only been a police officer for three months, all with the Columbus Police Department. However, he told News Leader 9 that did not stop him from answering the call to save a life on May 10th.
“I don’t know what drove me to do it,” he told us. “I just went headfirst into the smoke. I mean I would want anybody to try and save my grandma. So, I thought why not try and save her.”
According to police, Officer Coley smelled smoke while on duty near Veterans Pkwy. and Hancock Rd. He searched the area and found a home in flames in the 2900 block of Waterhill Rd.
“I was gonna make a turn on a previous road, but just continued on to Hancock and as soon as I pulled onto the road, that’s when I smelled the smoke,” he explained.
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Officer Coley said he radioed dispatch, only to learn there were no reports of a fire.
“When I rounded a corner, saw the fire, and immediately started trying to alert if there was anybody inside the house,” Coley said.
His colleagues also arrived on the scene to help. His Sergeant kicked in the door, and then Coley ran inside.
“I have no inclination to what made me do it,” he said. “I just saw the smoke come out of the door after it was kicked in, and I just knew I had to go in.”
Officer Coley entered the home and located an 89-year-old who was asleep in her bedroom. He said he covered his face with a wash cloth to protect himself from the smoke. He handed it to the elderly woman when he found her.
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“After I left the house, she was ushered away and I just I had to lean over, and it felt like a was coughing out a lung,” he said. “But I’m just hoping that towel I gave her helped her.”
All in all, Coley said he was doing what he signed up to do.
“I’m here to serve the community, and if that means running into a burning house to save an old lady, I’m serving my community.”
To watch the rescue, click on the video below:
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