What Would You DO?! AF Tech Sgt responds to fire in his neighborhood

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Adam C. Borgman
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  While watching television, Tech. Sgt. Eric Crews, received a knock on his door from a neighbor frantically asking for a fire extinguisher at his home is St. Petersburg, Florida, January 17, 2016.

Although Crews did not have a fire extinguisher, he could not help but to come to the aid of his neighbors! Without hesitation he rushed into the house, where thick black smoke bellowed out the front door, to find people still in the home.

"Once I helped the four girls out of the house, I asked if there was anyone else inside, knowing there was a handicapped man who lived there," said Crews. "The youngest girl told me her dog was the one left in the house, so I went in to bring her dog to her."

Once everyone was safe outside the house Crews directed a spectator to call 911 and made his way back in the house to prevent property damage to the home.

"I went back in the house to make sure the fire didn't spread", he said. "They told me the fire started in the oven, so I wanted to find out if it was an electric or gas oven, I know if it was a gas stove it could explode at any moment. Fortunately, it was an electric stove, so I closed the oven door and turned all the breakers off so when the firefighters arrived they could get to work."

This isn't the first time Crews selflessly put his own health at risk to save someone else.

"In 2010, I witnessed two men on jet-skis collide head on," he said. "It was scary, but just watching in awe didn't feel right, my friend and I who saw it happen jumped in our boat to assist them."

Once he arrived, both men were unresponsive and were pulled into the boat where Crews performed first aid.

"It feels natural to help others when they are in need," said Crews. "It is times like this where the years of Fire Extinguisher and Self Aid Buddy Care training feel natural and worth all the time we spend refreshing on it every year!"