ORMOND BEACH, Florida — A Volusia sheriff's deputy and Ormond Beach firefighters are being credited with rescuing an elderly couple from a burning home after a late-night house fire on Laurie Drive, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
The News-Journal reported that the fire happened at about 11:42 p.m. on May 18. A body camera video from Deputy Royce James, posted by the Volusia Sheriff's Office and described by the outlet, showed James arriving first and being told that two elderly people were still inside the home.
According to the report, flames and smoke were coming from the Laurie Drive house when Ormond Beach fire crews responded. James ran toward the front door, knocked, then kicked it in as smoke and an orange glow were visible from inside the home.
"Keep breathing, sweetheart"
The News-Journal reported that James was heard coughing after pulling an elderly woman from the home and encouraging her to keep breathing. He then alerted arriving firefighters that a second resident was still inside.
Firefighters rescued the elderly man, according to the Ormond Beach Professional Firefighters account cited by the newspaper. The couple was transported to a local trauma center in critical condition, the firefighter group said, according to the report.
"We would like to recognize the bravery and coordinated efforts of all first responders involved in this incident. Please keep the victims, their families, and all personnel on scene in your thoughts," the firefighter group said, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
A reminder of what first responders walk into
ThinBlueNews is limiting victim details to what was publicly reported and focusing on the coordinated emergency response. The available bodycam still used here is an exterior approach frame with no close victim imagery.
For Support Law Enforcement readers, the Ormond Beach rescue is a reminder that deputies, police officers, firefighters and dispatchers often have to make life-or-death decisions before a scene is fully understood. In this case, one deputy's first minutes at the door helped buy time for firefighters to reach the second resident.
Source reviewed
Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used a real Volusia Sheriff's Office bodycam still published by the source outlet and avoided close rescue/victim frames. We will update this story if Volusia Sheriff's Office or Ormond Beach fire officials release additional public information.