WFLA: Sarasota Police officers, survivor recount horrific Sarasota house fire скачать в хорошем качестве

WFLA: Sarasota Police officers, survivor recount horrific Sarasota house fire

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Days after a devastating fire tore through a home on the 2200 block of North Osprey Avenue, a survivor and the Sarasota Police Department officers who rushed inside are speaking out about the dangerous rescue that unfolded Friday night. The fire broke out just after 10 p.m. at a home, forcing residents to make split-second decisions as flames and falling power lines created life-threatening conditions. One of the survivors, Tyrone McNeil, said he woke up to use the bathroom when he heard neighbors screaming to call the fire department. “I saw flames so I took our running and ran down the road,” McNeil said. “Walls went to poppin, and the fire off the poles and all that there so I was just trying to get away,” he said. As firefighters and police responded, body-worn camera footage shows officers arriving to find that not everyone had made it out of the home. Officer Anthony Zappone was just a street away when the call came in and immediately ran toward the fire. “I trust my partners with my life, so running in there I know they have my back,” Zappone said. “I don’t know if they even knew that a fire was happening. So you, like, want to push them along and move them fast? Like, come on, let’s go. But you also got to remember that they are elderly and you don’t know what kind of state of mind they’re in,” Zappone said. According to authorities, live power lines began coming down as transformers malfunctioned, creating extremely hazardous conditions around the burning home. Officers can be heard on camera urgently telling residents to get out as sparks and electricity filled the area. Officer Daniel Stevens, who was filling in on a shift that night, was right behind Zappone. Video shows Stevens lifting an adult resident to move her away from danger. “The power lines started blowing in directions that were closer or even closer to us than before, because there was above the house and then there was across the street, kind of we’re in the middle of the road between the house that’s on fire and then the other side of the road,” Stevens said. “So when those start going, clearly that’s not a good place for us to get. So other officers there also helped pick her up and we just moved to another safe destination,” he said. Zappone said the electrical hazards were one of the biggest threats once residents were removed from the home. “People are worrying about the fire, but the the danger is coming out because electricity can jump. Those lines don’t actually have to hit you. They can jump by two or three feet and make connection with you,” Zappone explained. “So once we got everybody out of the house, the next order of business was to get everybody away from power lines,” he said. Zappone said his response was driven by a lifetime surrounded by first responders. “I come from a line of first responders. You know, my dad was, an army vet. My mom’s a, ER, nurse, all my cousins, a lot of my cousins are firemen. Grandfather was a police officer. So it’s kind of how I was raised. So it’s kind of second nature. I don’t think about it,” he said. “My wife is also in law enforcement as well. So we know the risk. So, I mean, you just, you kiss your loved ones goodbye, and you go to work and, you know you’re going to come home,” Zappone added. Stevens said the fire serves as a reminder for residents to be aware of their surroundings and have a plan in emergencies. “No matter what kind of structure you live in or where you’re at, know your surroundings, know what your points are of exit so that you can maintain safety at all times,” Stevens said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen or what can become a problem. So knowing those things and being aware of those things at first, I think very important…you know your house better than I do, so if you can assist with some of those directions or knowing where people are at, that helps us out a lot,” he said. The home was destroyed, but McNeil said he is focused on what matters most. “That’s material stuff. I’m just going to thank God that I’m alive,” he said. Authorities said one adult was transported to Tampa General Hospital. Another adult suffered minor burns and was treated at the scene. The conditions of both victims have not been released. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.