The Kent Police Department has awarded Life Saving Medals to Sergeant Kenny Clay and Officer James Quidachay for rescuing a woman trapped inside a burning home on the West Hill of Kent, the department announced this week.
Officer I. Munoz also received a Letter of Commendation for his role in supporting the rescue effort.
According to the department, officers responded to a residential fire on July 18 after dispatch reported individuals trapped inside the home. When officers arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure. After Sergeant Clay attempted to kick in the front door but saw that the interior was completely engulfed, a male resident told officers that his wife remained trapped on the second floor.
Officer Quidachay retrieved the resident’s ladder and helped position it so responders could climb onto the garage roof. Sergeant Clay scaled the ladder and tried to break open a window to reach the woman. A responding firefighter provided an axe, which allowed him to create an opening large enough for rescue.
“Together, with the help of Fire personnel, Sergeant Clay and Officer Quidachay carefully extracted the female through the narrow opening,” police said. “She was safely brought down off the roof and away to safety.”
Kent Police officials said the woman likely would have died from smoke inhalation if not for the officers’ quick and decisive actions. The Life Saving Medal citation notes that their actions reflect the department’s mission of protecting and caring for people in the community and its values of service.
Officer Munoz was recognized with a Letter of Commendation for assisting the rescue team during the incident.
