A Portland woman’s fiery death was avoided thanks to the speed of police, fire, and medical first responders who conducted a harrowing rescue in late December.
Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Sarah Kerwin told local news that the 911 call of a vehicle ablaze near Mt. Scott Boulevard came from the driver herself, trapped inside.
“This was the first time I’ve ever… had anyone call in saying ‘I am trapped,'” said Kerwin. “All of a sudden the person in the car is calling in saying they’re on fire and they can’t get out.”
Those were the stakes when Kerwin and her partner arrived at the scene where the vehicle was tipped on its side and engulfed in flames that were so hot that neither officer could reasonably try and rescue the driver.
With the help of Portland Fire and Rescue, they were able to get the woman out of the car.
The firefighters first contained the fire with their hoses, then approached the car in their protective clothing and shattered the windscreen with a battering ram.
She was not breathing when they stretched her out in the grass at a safe distance. Kerwin immediately started CPR. Oxygen was later administered.
“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,” Sgt. Kerwin told KOIN 6 News.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she was recovering at the time of reporting.
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