Cop follows snores in fire rescue

An Omaha police officer followed the sound of snoring through a smoky basement to rescue a man from a burning house Wednesday night.

Officer Kenneth Fox, 31, a gang unit officer, was on patrol near 29th and Erskine Streets when a house fire was reported about 10 p.m.

Fox wasn't dispatched to the scene but decided to head over since he was nearby. He was the first to arrive at the house at 2411 N. 29th St. Smoke was coming out of the house, and a witness said someone was trapped in the basement.

Fox, who has been with OPD for nearly four years, rushed in and headed downstairs. The fire appeared to have started in the basement and Fox was unable to see because of the heavy smoke. He felt around trying to find the man.

He felt the smoke affecting his body and he started "short-breathing." He saw smoke coming from under the bedroom door. That's when he heard snores coming from behind the locked door.

"I thought, oh man, 'Backdraft,' like the movie, but I thought I gotta go," Fox said. "This is what I signed on for. I kicked it open and yelled but he was still snoring."

Foxworked through the smoky room, followed the snores and was able to reach 54-year-old Emanuel Harvey asleep, and still snoring, in a bed.

Fox was able to get Harvey out of the house unharmed.

Harvey refused medical treatment but Fox was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center where he was treated for possible smoke inhalation and later was released.

Lt. Darci Tierney, police spokeswoman, said Fox showed bravery by responding quickly to the situation.

"When you're a police officer you never know what you will run into," she said. "He was in the right place at the right time and went to the scene on his own. ... He makes us proud. He is one of the many great people we have working on the police department."

Fox was modest about his efforts, but said he feels good about the rescue. His heroics didn't hit him until his sergeant mentioned it.

The rescue made two lives saved by Omaha police officers in a four-day span.

Officers Adam Rokes, 44, and Richard Uryasz, 46, used CPR to help save the life of J. Ramon Hernandez, 59, after he went into cardiac arrest about two miles into Sunday's Cinco de Mayo five-kilometer run.

« Metro/Region

Share