On Sept. 5, 2018, in Thornton, police Officer J. Ryan Thornton, 41, responded to the scene of a mobile home fire. Upon arrival, he kicked open the door of the home and entered the structure filled with heavy smoke and blistering heat. He then crawled about 15 feet to a 61-year-old woman, who could not leave the structure on her own. After briefly retreating outside for fresh air, Thornton re-entered and returned to the woman’s bedside, despite flames burning nearby. He picked her up and carried her toward the front door. While retreating, Thornton tripped and fell to the floor. He dragged the woman the remaining distance to the front door of the home, where they were met by emergency responders. Thornton was hospitalized for two days for treatment of inhalation burn injuries, and he recovered.
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