RICHMOND, Va. – Two Richmond police officers are being considered for a lifesaving award after their heroic actions in a motel fire.
On January 7 around 5:30 p.m., officers Ben Frazer and Steve Gibson were searching for a wanted person near the Richmond Inn and discovered a fire at the back of the motel.
“I went upstairs and started banging on the door. No one answered the door, so we had to open the door ourselves,” Frazer recounted.
The partners used a dam sheep to gain access to some of the rooms when they rushed in to warn guests of the flames.
Upstairs, Officer Frazer will be engulfed in flames as the flames rise.
“As soon as the fire extinguisher came out, I heard a clack, and the curtains pulled up. It hit the balcony area and went up there. Of course, he was basically right there,” Gibson explained.
Richmond Police Third Police Captain Faith Flippo described the moment as resembling a Frazer cop covered in smoke.
Flippo said: “All of a sudden there was smoke and he lost track of it, he had to cling to a railing to get himself out as he was already involved in trying to save someone and help people. people,” said Flippo.
Flippo says its efforts deserve a lifesaver award.
“They put themselves in danger to save others. Our Richmond officers do it every day, and in this situation, it’s great that the two officers involved are recognized for that,” she said.
Nearly a dozen guests were saved due to the quick response of the officers.
Officer Frazer’s injuries required oxygen in the back of the ambulance, but the pair quickly returned to duty.
“In a situation like that, I don’t think you’re a cop or a firefighter or anything important – a normal person would do the same thing as us,” he said.
These officers believe there is a lesson to be learned from a potentially devastating fire. Gibson staff discovered that some guests were more worried about their room’s belongings than being out of danger.
“We’re not there to watch your stuff burn,” explains Frazer. “We are there to protect the people out there. Just do us a favor, listen to us, and we’ll take you to your room. “
No one else was injured.
Richmond police arrested the wanted man on Wednesday.
