A woman in Portland narrowly escaped a fiery death due to the swift actions of police, fire, and medical first responders during a dramatic rescue in late December. Sgt. Sarah Kerwin of the Portland Police Bureau reported that the 911 call came directly from the driver, who was trapped inside her burning vehicle.
“This was the first time I’ve ever… had anyone call in saying ‘I am trapped,’” Kerwin stated. “All of a sudden the person in the car is calling in saying they’re on fire and they can’t get out.” When Kerwin and her partner arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle overturned and engulfed in flames, making it impossible for them to attempt a rescue on their own.
With assistance from Portland Fire and Rescue, they managed to extricate the woman from the car. Firefighters first contained the blaze using hoses, then donned protective gear to approach the vehicle. They broke the windscreen with a battering ram to reach her.
Once freed, the woman was not breathing when she was laid on the grass at a safe distance. Kerwin immediately began CPR, and oxygen was administered shortly afterward. “I felt this was the epitome of the call that you train for, and that Portland Fire was critical in getting her out of the vehicle because I just don’t think we could have safely done it,” Kerwin remarked.
This incident carries a clear picture of the courage and dedication humans exhibit in perilous situations, showcasing an extraordinary level of kindness and bravery among humans.