All recovered and back at work
By Heather Michon
Correspondent
Three Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office deputies are doing well after sustaining minor injuries and smoke inhalation while rescuing an elderly woman from an early-morning house fire on Aug. 2.
In a recent update, FCSO Public Information Officer Lt. Aaron Hurd noted that the deputies were at the end of a 12-hour shift when they responded to a 911 call of a house fire on Old Fork Lane near Cunningham at around 5:30 a.m.
“They likely were not anticipating the final call of their shift to be one in which they would have to make the decision to put themselves in danger to save the life of a Fluvanna County citizen,” said Lt. Hurd in a press release.
Without hesitation, the deputies entered the building to locate and remove an 83-year-old resident trapped inside the burning structure. According to CBS19 in Charlottesville, she was unable to move due to a broken hip.
Hurd said she is currently recovering under medical care.
The deputies were taken to UVA Medical Center for evaluation and “all three have returned to work after a period of recovery time, and all continue to serve their community.”
Despite the efforts of firefighters from Fork Union, Palmyra, Lake Monticello, Kents Store, and Scottsville, the home is described as “a total loss.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Upon arriving, the deputies found smoke coming from the home.
The first deputy to arrive attempted to enter the residence and was able to make entry through the front door. As soon as the door was opened, heavy smoke was encountered. Because of the heavy smoke, the deputies had to make multiple entries before the 83-year-old, immobile resident was able to be rescued.
Deputies were then informed that there may have been another individual in the residence. When alerted to this information, the deputies re-entered the residence multiple times to search for any other occupants, but none were found.
The American Red Cross has been engaged to support the displaced family.
Hurd says discussions are underway on how to more formally recognize the efforts of the deputies that morning. “Their heroic actions saved a life that morning,” he said, “and stand[s] as a proud moment for the sheriff’s office. and the Fluvanna County community.”
