'Very heroic rescue': Four officers injured after running into burning building to rescue several who were trapped | Law Enforcement Today

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI - Although mainstream media buried the information, four officers are being praised as heroes in a suburb of Detroit after they rushed into a burning building to rescue several who were trapped this week. One officer remains in serious condition, while the other three are listed in good condition.


Eight people who are all related and range in age from five months to 27 years old were also injured, suffering from smoke inhilation, but no burns according to the city's fire chief, Jon Unruh. Two adults men and one adult woman are in serious condition, he said.

On Tuesday, around 5:00 a.m., firefighters were called to a reported fire at a single family residence on 10 Mile Road near Middlebelt. "Police officers received information from people on the scene that there were people trapped inside the home," Unruh told the local media. "Four officers made entry into the home and made several rescues. They made a very heroic rescue."

Firefighters arrived, approximately 23 of them, and were able to extinguish the fire before it spread, although, according to the fire chief, "The house is a total loss."

Reportedly, Farmington Hills police found the victims unconcious in several bedrooms throughout the home, and also rescued two cats. 

Law Enforcement Today spoke with the Farmington Hills Police Department (FHPD) Tuesday afternoon, who said officers were on scene within 90 seconds of the "frantic 911 calls." In a press release obtained by LET, FHPD said, "Farmington Hills Police Officers Devin Hunt, Muhieddine (Dean) Turk, and Timothy Shingleton immediately rushed to the rear of the property and forcibly entered through a back door. Working through intense smoke, heat and flames, officers discovered an unconscious man trapped between a cabinet and a wall with a seven-year-old child pinned beneath him.

"While the officers worked to free the man and child, officers assisted a second adult man to crawl over the man and safely out of the home. When the officers successfully freed the child, an officer carried her to safety. Officers were able to drag the unconscious man toward a rear door, where he regained consciousness and crawled out of the house with officer assistance.

"Officer Antoneta Bucaj responded to a side door, where she assisted one adult and one child in getting out of the home. Police officers also rescued two cats from the residence, which are currently being treatment at a local animal hospital."

Unruh said that the home did not have working smoke alarms, and that the fire was believed to have started inside one of the bedrooms. "I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have working smoke alarms in the home," he said.

“I am extremely proud of the selfless and heroic actions of these officers, who risked their lives to rescue these residents,” said Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott. “We remain hopeful and are praying for the full recovery of the officers involved and the residents who were rescued.”

Most media outlets are reporting that four officers were injured in the fire, but are barely adding one line towards the bottom in the form of Unruh's quote that indicates they were injured by running into the burning building to help those trapped. One outlet, Patch Media, Michigan, reported that the firefighters were the ones who made the rescues and did not include the officers going into the home at all, aside from the fire chief's brief quote. All occupants of the residence were outside the home when firefighting units arrived on scene.

"The heroic actions of these four police officers exemplify the very best of public service. Without hesitation, they rushed into danger to rescue residents trapped in the burning home, demonstrating extraordinary courage and selflessness,” said Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh. “Their swift response, coupled with the Fire Department's immediate medical attention and transportation of all twelve individuals to the hospital, likely prevented a tragic outcome. We are profoundly grateful to these brave officers and fire personnel for their exceptional service to our community."

As of Wednesday afternoon, all four of the officers were released from the hospital and in good health.