Two law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation after the they entered a burning home in DeLand to rescue a child, officials said on July 13.
But as it turned out, the boy was not in the home, officials said. The child was also evaluated for smoke inhalation and burns, city of DeLand spokeswoman Sarah Lux said.
Lux said the home that caught fire was located in the 900 block of Cascade Falls Lane.
Volusia deputy, DeLand officer suffer smoke inhalation, city spokeswoman said
Emergency teams responding at 3:04 p.m. found an active fire and a mother outside the residence. The woman reported a child might still be in the burning home, and a DeLand police officer and a Volusia sheriff’s deputy moved to the entryway of the home and conducted a search to confirm the child’s whereabouts, Lux said.
“As a result of their response efforts, the DPD officer and VSO deputy were transported for medical treatment for smoke inhalation,” Lux wrote in a news release.
Child evaluated for smoke inhalation, burns, DeLand spokeswoman says
As the officers searched for the boy and called out his name, the mother informed them that the child was not in the house, according to body camera video of the incident.
The child was also transported for medical evaluation for smoke inhalation and burns, Lux said.
“All three are expected to recover, and the DeLand Police Department wishes them a full and speedy recovery,” Lux noted in the email.
The DeLand Fire Department and the Volusia County Fire Rescue worked to bring the house fire under control. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
― Patricio G. Balona is a crime and public safety reporter covering Volusia County and occasionally Flagler County. His coverage areas include Daytona Beach, DeLand, Ormond Beach, and beyond.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Officers injured searching for boy in DeLand house fire, officials say
Reporting by Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
