PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A police officer in Pinellas County is being thanked for saving a life after he carried an unconscious man out of a house fire on Friday.
The Pinellas Park Police Department says Officer Jeffrey DeTrano was out on routine patrol when he noticed fire trucks on 49th Street.
He followed them and a neighbor told him the 73-year-old resident might still be inside the burning home. The department says at that time flames could be seen coming out of the front of the house.
Officer DeTrano found an open back door with smoke flowing out of it and looked inside. Authorities say the officer saw the man in the back room, crouched down and unresponsive.
Officer DeTrano went inside and "without hesitation" carried the man out and got him over to paramedics.
"Officer DeTrano's actions saved a life today. If it were not for his actions, the outcome would have been tragic," Pinellas Park Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Robert Angell said. "Officer DeTrano's selfless actions display just one example of the commitment that all of our public servants have in service to our community."
The fire is still under investigation but authorities say it does not appear to be intentional.
