Two police officers were injured Tuesday morning as they rescued a man from a burning home on Lakeshore Boulevard in Willowick.
The officers said they arrived within seconds of the 9-11 call. The house is located very close to the police department.
"When we rolled up, there was black smoke billowing out of the front of it," said Sgt. Bob Prochazka. A woman on the front lawn told the officers her disabled husband was trapped inside.
"We immediately ran in," said Prochazka. "We knew the fire was only going to get worse," added Prochazka.
Officer Chris Olup found the man inside the home and the officers were then able to get the man out of the house. "I am quite sure it's life or death. If they weren't there it wouldn't have turned out as well," said Willowick Fire Captain Tim Bynane.
Firefighters extinguished a fire in the 31000 block of Lakeshore Boulevard near East 315th Street.
Crews were called out at about 7 a.m Tuesday as the fire quickly spread through the bottom of the two-story home.
A woman who was inside the home as the fire was burning was able to make her way out. A family dog escaped as well. The family is expected to be okay.
The two officers were treated for smoke inhalation and were released from the hospital.
The fire department believes the fire started in the laundry room. The investigation into how the fire started is ongoing according to fire officials.
