CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Police officers in Southwest Florida are being celebrated as heroes for jumping into action to save a couple from their burning home.
The dramatic rescue was captured on body camera video released by the Cape Coral Police Department.
The fire happened on March 27 at a home in Cape Coral, about 130 miles south of Tampa, close to Fort Myers.
The video shows the officers showing up at the home where bright, orange flames could be seen through the front door engulfing the inside. "Hello — Cape Coral police!" one officer shouts as he opens the door.
The video cuts to the officer walking up to the garage, which is partially open. There he makes contact with a woman and helps her out of the small opening as he asks if anyone else is inside the home.
"My husband, who's an amputee, and my two dogs," she replied as she climbed out.
The video then shows one of the officers, equipped with a fire extinguisher, walking up to the front door to spray inside before having to step outside to get air. The officers take turns spraying the extinguisher in an attempt to get inside that way.
Eventually, the woman's husband makes it to the garage, but can't get out because the garage door is broken, and it's too small for his wheelchair to get through.
"Hold your breath, Nick!" one officer yelled as they worked to find a way to get him out.
"He's gotta get air, he can't get air!" his wife said.
With the help of a good Samaritan, the agency said officers were eventually able to get the man out of the garage and to safety.
The dogs, too, appeared to make it out okay. Everyone was evacuated safely, the agency added.
Moments later, the local fire department arrives at the home to put out the flames.
According to WINK News, who spoke with the couple's daughter, the cause of the fire may have been caused by an exploding oxygen tank.