Image courtesy of Facebook
The Saturday night fire was likely started in a dryer.
A fire that started on Saturday evening, forced the evacuation of house occupants. This was done safely, even with one being a bed-ridden woman, thanks to the heroic efforts of two local police officers.
As previously covered here on Horsham Now, a fire began around 8:09 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, in the 200 block of Broadway Avenue in Horsham Township. First responders arrived on the scene, which quickly upgraded to a building fire with entrapment.
As they were on patrol at the time in the area, two police officers on the Horsham Township Police force, were first to enter the scene, beating out local fire companies. Officers Michael Costello and Nicholas Tschepikiewski acted quickly, according to accounts, to assist one of the home’s occupants, a woman who was unable to evacuate on her own.
Both officers were later treated at the scene by local emergency medical services for smoke inhalation, according to reports. The two residents, a male who was able to leave on his own volition, and the bed-ridden woman, were both transported to the hospital for treatment.
Reports stated that the home was only minimally damaged, and that the family is being assisted by the Department of Emergency Management. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal but is believed to have been started in the household dryer.
“We neighbors watched those police officers first on the scene enter through the rear of the building, saving the life of the homeowner,” said Jodi Poirier, a member of Horsham ChATs Facebook group on the page. “The officers were physically overcome by the smoke but continued heroically removing the homeowner.”
Poirier was thankful, as were many in the community, for the quick action of the first responders.
“God bless those officers and commendation medals should be awarded,” said Poirier in the post. “The firefighters did a great job extinguishing the flames saving the home and neighbors homes from further damage.”
“Erin Colleen,” the daughter of the woman saved, also took to social media to give her thanks.
“I especially want to thank the heroic efforts of Officer Michael Costello and Officer Nicholas Tschepikiewski for saving my mom’s life,” said Colleen. “Without that courageous, selfless act, things may have been very different. You are so deeply appreciated.”
