The Kent Police Department awarded lifesaving medals to three officers for risking their lives to help save a woman from a house fire.
Sgt. Kenny Clay, Officer James Quidachay and Officer I. Munoz were recognized this week by Assistant Chief Andy Grove for their efforts during a July 18 residential fire in the 3600 block of South 262nd Street on the West Hill.
Clay and Quidachay received lifesaving awards while Munoz received a letter of commendation for his actions to support the officers during the rescue, according to a Nov. 25 Kent Police Facebook post.
Officers responded July 18 to reports of a residential fire with individuals trapped inside, according to police.
“Upon arrival, officers encountered an active fire with heavy smoke coming off the structure,” according to the verbiage on the lifesaving award. “After attempting to gain entry to the residence by kicking in the door, only to see the interior completely engulfed in flames, Sgt. Clay was informed by the male resident that his wife was still inside, trapped on the second floor.
“Without hesitation, Officer Quidachay grabbed the resident’s ladder and helped get it into place so help could climb onto the garage roof. Scaling the ladder, Sgt. Clay began attempts to fully break open a window so the trapped individual could escape. With an axe provided by one of the responding (Puget Sound Fire) firefighters, he was able to create an opening large enough to extract the female. Together, with the help of fire personnel, Sgt. Clay and Officer Quidachay carefully extracted the female through the narrow opening. She was safely brought down off the roof and away to safety.”
One person was treated at the scene for minor injuries and transported to a local hospital, according to Puget Sound Fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire in approximately 40 minutes.
“Sgt. Clay and Officer Quidachay are being commended for their quick and decisive action that saved the resident’s life, who would have otherwise likely succumbed to smoke inhalation,” according to police. “Their actions embody the Kent Police Department mission of protecting and caring for people in our community, our value of service and our vision of improving the lives of our community members.”
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