Christopher Alan Sturgeon helped to rescue Josephine E. Brown from burning, Topeka, Kansas, November 17, 2009. Brown, 63, was on the first floor of her two-story house after fire broke out in the living room and filled the floor with dense smoke. First responders included Sturgeon, 33, police officer. Hearing Brown scream, he kicked in the back door to the house since flames were blocking its front entrance. The door opened to a utility room, which was off the kitchen. Despite dense smoke in those rooms, affording him little visibility, Sturgeon crawled inside but had to retreat for air. He made subsequent attempts, going farther into the house to find Brown on the floor of the dining room, which was off the kitchen. Sturgeon dragged Brown to the kitchen on one attempt and then closer to the utility room door on a subsequent one. After again retreating for air, Sturgeon was met at the back door by another officer, and between them they removed Brown to safety. Brown required hospitalization for treatment of fire-related injury, and Sturgeon also received hospital treatment, for smoke inhalation. He recovered.
82702 – 9407
82702-9407