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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) — A Columbus police officer and firefighter are being called a hero today.
Officer Mo Eguries and Battalion Chief J. R. Lancaster arrived simultaneously at a fire at Crest Apartments at 601 5th Avenue North shortly after 8:30 Thursday night. They saw smoke coming from an apartment and a neighbor said they thought the middle-aged woman was still inside.
When they heard faint cries for help, they kicked in the door and were greeted by flames licking the roof from a burning couch and thick, black smoke. They saw a figure walking toward them, grabbed her by the shoulders and got her out.
Another minute or two and it could have been a tragedy.
The woman was covered in soot and suffered burns to her hands. Eguries brushed off the hero label.
“The citizens expect us to serve and protect them at all times. When you are faced with adversity we are expected to react. I did what I think everybody else would do, there was somebody inside who was crying for help so I did what I had to do,” he said.
Firefighters think the woman fell asleep while smoking and set the couch on fire.
