MEDINA, Ohio — Medina Fire Chief Larry Walters is being honored by the state of Ohio for rescuing a woman trapped in the basement of her burning home during a house fire in October 2024
Fire crews responded to a blaze on Branch Road in York Township and located the trapped woman at a basement window, but the opening was too small for her to escape, and their initial rescue attempt failed, FOX8 WJW reported.
With flames closing in, body-camera video from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office showed Walters taking action, entering the basement without SCBA, and reassuring the woman that he would get her out safely. Using a Halligan bar, he was able to boost the woman up through the narrow window and into the arms of waiting firefighters.
After ensuring the woman’s safety, Walters stayed behind in an attempt to save the victim’s dog, but the fire spread rapidly. Realizing he was running out of time, he used the Halligan bar to lift himself toward the window. Fellow firefighters pulled him out moments before the house was fully engulfed.
Walters said the rescue is a testament to teamwork.
“All of the right people were there at the right time in the right places, doing the right things and we had a good outcome as a result of it,” he said.
