Watch Johnstown Pennsylvania Police Kick Down Door to Save Woman from House Fire

By Joshua Byers

Source The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.

JOHNSTOWN, PA—Two Johnstown Police Department officers are being commended for their rescue of an Old Conemaugh Borough woman Sunday when her house caught fire.

“They deserve all the thanks that they get,” Johnstown Deputy police Chief Mark Britton said.

Officers Jarred LeFevre and Eric Allen were performing a routine patrol on the 900 block of Steel Street before 11 p.m. when they noticed smoke exiting the eaves of a two-story home.

Britton said LeFevre knocked on the front door, and when there was no answer, he kicked it in to gain entry and began announcing himself as a Johnstown police officer.

Finding no one on the first floor, he and Allen ascended to the second floor, where the resident called for help and let them know a bedroom on that floor was ablaze.

The pair assisted her in exiting the structure and awaited the arrival of fire and ambulance crews.

The woman was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for smoke inhalation, and Britton said she’s doing all right.

The officers were examined by emergency medical services at the scene and later went to the hospital to be evaluated of their own accord.

“Officer Lefevre and Officer Allen really put their lives on the line to get that lady out of that house,” Britton said. “I cannot express how honored I am to be their chief and how happy I am to have those guys working for JPD.”

He added that the purpose of police is to protect and serve, and the officers did just that when the resident needed them.

The fire was contained to the second-story bedroom, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigator and Fire Marshal Keith Sobecki said. He examined the home on Monday morning and determined the cause to be accidental and likely electrical.

Sobecki said the culprit may have been what appeared to be an extension cord.

Although the flames were primarily contained to the bedroom, Johnstown fire Chief Bob Statler said there was smoke and heat damage to the rest of the building.

Two second-story windows facing the street were knocked out, revealing charred trim and remains inside, with fire-damaged debris on a porch roof.

Statler said the call was a two-alarm fire, but crews had a quick knockdown once there.

Firefighters from Johnstown, West Hills Regional and Richland Township fire departments responded, along with Johnstown police, and 7th Ward, Hilltop and Conemaugh emergency medical services.

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