Waseng Xiong saved Betty Edwards from burning, Rogers, Arkansas, March 7, 2013. Edwards, 76, was in her family’s mobile home after fire broke out near its front door and spread, blocking access to the door. Xiong, 31, a police officer who was on duty, responded to the scene and learned that Edwards was inside the structure. After an unsuccessful attempt to break through a rear door of the mobile home, Xiong went to a nearby sliding glass door and broke out the glass with his service baton. As the base of the door was a few feet off the ground, Xiong reached inside the mobile home to remove a chair and then stepped onto the chair and entered the dining area of the smoke-filled structure. He shouted to Edwards, and she responded. Although the smoke significantly restricted his visibility and hampered his breathing, Xiong made his way to Edwards, finding her seated in the adjoining kitchen. He positioned her on her back and then pulled her as he crawled to the door. Another officer who had partially entered the structure took Edwards from the mobile home and with help moved her to safety. Xiong then exited the structure. Edwards and Xiong required hospital treatment for ill effects of the fire, Xiong’s including lacerations to a leg. He recovered.
85613 – 9682
85613-9682