Tuesday, April 20, 1999

Police pair rescue child from balcony at fire scene

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BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Harrison Police Officer Chris Petty, right, climbed onto the shoulders of Police Sgt. Steve Wilson to pluck a child off a burning balcony. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        HARRISON — A Harrison police officer, boosted by a second officer, scaled the outside of a burning apartment building to rescue a small child from a third-floor balcony Monday afternoon.

        Moments later, city firefighters used an aerial ladder to pluck the child's parents safely from the same balcony.

        The fire began in a basement apartment at the Harrison Terrace Apartments about 12:30 p.m. and was brought under control about an hour later. There were no injuries, but the family rescued from the balcony was taken to Mer cy Hospital Fairfield. Officials there identified them as Lisa and Scott Middleton, but declined to release the child's name. All were treated and released.

        The fire and heavy smoke forced the evacuation of 10 to 20 residents from the apartment building, police and fire

        officials said.

        Fire Chief Alan Kinnett said preliminary estimates place the fire damage between $50,000 and $70,000.

        While on patrol, Harrison Police Officer Chris Petty noticed smoke coming from the building, in the 10000 block of Harrison Pike. He alerted the fire department, grabbed his fire extinguisher and tried going through the front door until the smoke forced him back.

        “I got a good chestful of smoke,” Officer Petty said.

        Officer Petty next noticed a young couple with a child on the balcony as smoke billowed from other windows.

        Harrison Police Sgt. Steve Wilson gave Officer Petty a boost up to an overhanging air conditioner and a second floor-balcony.

        The Middletons handed the baby down to Officer Petty, who grabbed her by the leg, pulled her close and handed her off to Sgt. Wilson.

        “The smoke was incredible,” Officer Petty said. By then, the fire department was at the building, and firefighters positioned an aerial ladder to get the Middletons.

        “They did a great job,” said Police Chief Charles Lindsey, who was at the scene. “We have a good working relationship with the fire department. It's close-knit.”

        Rob Doyle, who has lived in the building for three months, was asleep when he heard a commotion and then fled the building without a shirt and shoes.

        “I just heard yelling,” said Mr. Doyle, as he stood outside the building wrapped in a blanket. “A cop was yelling, "Hand her over, hand her over!' Then I heard, "We got her.'”

        Fire Capt. Steve Potter said a child playing with a lighter apparently ignit ed some clothing in the basement apartment. The fire appeared to be confined to that apartment, he said, but there was extensive smoke damage to four to six apartments.

        Fire officials will go room by room in the building to determine which apartments are habitable, Capt. Potter said. No damage estimate was available.

        The Red Cross was helping the displaced families find temporary lodging.

        Sgt. Wilson has been with the police department for 10 years and is a member of the Hamilton County dive team. Officer Petty has been with the department 11 years and is part of the Hamilton County Police Association SWAT team.

        “They're highly trained officers,” Chief Lindsey said.

       

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