Deputy Doubles As Firefighter, Saves Home

TAMPA, FL — A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy recently took his oath to protect and serve to a whole new level by doubling as a firefighter of sorts. His quick action is credited for containing damage from a recent blaze to a home’s kitchen area.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the incident in question happened back on July 19. Deputy Larry Larson happened to respond to a fire call from a home in the 7500 block of Pitch Pine Circle around 4:15 p.m.

When Larson arrived, the sheriff’s office said Hillsborough County Fire Rescue had not yet made it to the scene. That’s when Larson decided to take action. He grabbed his sheriff’s office-issued fire extinguisher and jumped in to help evacuate residents, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

“As he attempted to extinguish the fire, he noted the flames would flare up due to the heat of the electric stove,” the email said. “He located the residential breaker box and shut off the power to the residence. After doing so, he again swept the fire with his extinguisher, successfully extinguishing the fire.”

The home had a smoke detector, the agency said, but its alarm did not activate. The kitchen suffered “substantial” smoke and fire damage, but no injuries were reported.

The sheriff’s office found out after the fire that Kimberly Reed, one of the home’s residents, had put a pot of oil on the stove to heat up. She stepped away for a few moments to make a phone call and forgot about the pot, the sheriff’s office said.

A damage estimate was not available.

Photos courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office