Feb 8, 2017 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Three Cumberland Township police officers were honored this week for helping a 70-year-old woman in a wheelchair escape from her burning apartment last month.

Township police Chief James Vogel praised officers Craig Miller, Joseph Bradley and Zack Kodric for helping the woman get out of her apartment at Carmichaels Arbors, alerting other residents to the situation and extinguishing the Jan. 18 fire just minutes after being dispatched.

Each officer received a blue ribbon to wear on his uniform during a commendation ceremony at the township supervisors’ meeting Monday.

“It’s one of those difficult situations to take into account,” Vogel said Wednesday. “We intend to go into harm’s way to help others. We don’t want to waste our lives, but we don’t mind sticking our necks on the line. This is one of those situations that was indicative of that work.”

Miller, also a volunteer firefighter, received the initial call and contacted the other two officers for assistance. He was the first officer to arrive at the apartment complex at 211 Liberty St. and went inside, finding the stove on fire with the woman trying to put it out.

“At the time, we were just worried people were still in there and didn’t know the extent of the fire,” Miller said.

Miller and Kodric were able to move the woman out of the room as the apartment filled with smoke. Her wheelchair got caught on the way out, Bradley said, but the officers were able to get her out safely.

Miller alerted other residents in three apartments adjoining the woman’s unit while Bradley ran back to his police cruiser to get a fire extinguisher. A resident watching the situation nearby handed him a personal fire extinguisher, Bradley said, saving him time as he went back inside and extinguished the blaze.

“Good thing he was there,” Bradley said. “It was filling with smoke when we got her out. When I got the fire extinguisher, it was black.”

Bradley said training kicked in and he didn’t really think about the danger until later that day.

“Afterward, I thought about it,” Bradley said. “That could’ve ended badly.”

Firefighters arrived shortly after and extinguished hot spots in the kitchen.

Carmichaels-Cumberland First Assistant Fire Chief Mike Riggen said the blaze started when the stove was accidentally turned on and caught nearby decoration on fire before spreading to cabinets. He estimated there to be about $10,000 worth of damage. The woman was unharmed and is staying at another facility while repairs are being made to her apartment.

The police chief commended his police officers for helping the woman get out.

“We were there in enough time … to save a life,” Vogel said.

Also during Monday’s meeting, Miller, who previously served as police chief before resigning from that role in January, was promoted from patrolman to lieutenant. Miller also serves as the school resource police officer for Carmichaels Area School District.

Meanwhile, George DeVault, a former Pittsburgh police officer, was hired to serve as a part-time police officer in the township. Vogel also announced the township intends to hire two additional full-time officers later this month.