One early morning, Sergeant Judy Arroyo of the Long Beach, New York, Police Department was flagged down by a good Samaritan, who notified her that a nearby house was on fire. Sergeant Arroyo alerted dispatch of the incident and followed the man to the house. The front door of the residence was unlocked, so Sergeant Arroyo went inside and shouted “fire” to help evacuate any residents who may have been inside. At this point, the fire was in the back of the house but spreading to the second floor.

Sergeant Arroyo located the homeowner and yelled for him to exit the house, but he appeared disoriented and confused and could not hear her over the sound of the flames. With the fire and smoke quickly overtaking the entire house, Sergeant Arroyo ran toward the man and ushered him outside.

The homeowner stated that his son and another tenant may be on the second floor, so Sergeant Arroyo reentered the house. Despite thick, black smoke pouring down the stairway, she went up a few steps to call out to the residents. Upon facing a gust of hot air followed by a flashover, Sergeant Arroyo immediately exited the house and was transported to the hospital to be treated for second degree burns to her hand, forehead, and ear.

Thankfully, the other tenants suspected to be on the second floor were not home at the time of the incident.