A Tennessee police officer named Rogers rushed into a burning two-story home on May 1 and rescued a mother and her two children before firefighters arrived on scene [1, 2]. The house was engulfed in flames extending to the second floor and attic when he arrived [1, 2].
Rogers first carried the 4-year-old girl to safety. He then helped the mother, who held the 10-year-old boy behind her as they escaped [1, 2]. The mother, Rachel Blaylock, recalled, "I keep thinking back: 'How was I going to get two kids down the stairs?' He just grabs [Marlowe], and he was willing to go back in. I was trying to tell him that no one else was there, but he was already going back up" [2].
After securing the family outside, Rogers returned with a fire extinguisher and suppressed flames on the front porch until firefighters arrived [1, 2]. The Chattanooga Fire Department confirmed the fire was fully extinguished within 20 minutes, but the house was destroyed [1, 2]. No injuries were reported from the incident [1, 2].
Although the officers involved are not trained firefighters, the Chattanooga Police Department praised Rogers and shared body camera footage of the rescue on Facebook [1, 2]. The fire department noted the Red Cross is assisting the family, who lost all of their belongings in the blaze [2]. An online fundraiser has also been created to support them [2].
