Heroic due saves residents from fire

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  • A home at 701 Watts Ave. was englufed in flflames on December 10, 2020 when a delivery driver and Madill Police Offificer saved the residents. Courtesy photo
    A home at 701 Watts Ave. was englufed in flflames on December 10, 2020 when a delivery driver and Madill Police Offificer saved the residents. Courtesy photo
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A Madill Police Officer and a paper delivery man are being hailed as heroes after saving four people early Thursday morning. It all began in the early morning on December 10, 2020. At 3:18 a.m., a driver from the Ardmoreite was making his typical morning run when suddenly, the route became way more than typical.

The driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, noticed fire pouring out of a residence at 701 Watts Avenue. He quickly dialed 911 for assistance. Madill Police Officer Uriel Barrientos was immediately on scene because he was a few blocks away when the call came in.

After a few failed attempts of waking the residents, the driver and Barrientos took matters into their own hands and gained entryinto the house through the front door. Madill Fire Chief Mike Idleman said the duo were able to gain quick entry into the home because the front door was easily accessible, and they did not have to break the door down.

Barrientos and the unknown hero were able to pull all four residents - two elderly residents, and two more adults - from the fire without any incident. Idleman said, even though they are not yet sure what ignited the fire, it began in a poly cart on the outside of the house and has been ruled accidental. A majority of the was to ceiling of the home.

Idleman said that things could have turned out way worse, if it were not for the quick-thinking actions of the heroic duo.

“The two men played a big role in preventing any injuries,” Idleman said. “If they wouldn’t have done what they did, the outcome would have been way worse.”

Idleman noted that the residents had lived in the house for 52 years, and the house is possibly a total loss from the fire. However, they were able to salvage quite a bit of items from inside the home. He also said the residents have already received an “enormous amount of support from the community.”