DEPUTY BRAVES FIRE IN RESCUE MAN ENGULFED IN FLAMES DRAGGED AWAY TO SAFETY.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer VALENCIA - A sheriff's deputy was hailed as a hero Tuesday after he was injured rescuing a man from a burning van, sheriff's officials said. Deputy Brad Thompson Bradley Joseph Thompson (born January 31, 1982 in Las Vegas, Nevada), is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is 6'1 and weighs 190 pounds. He went to college at Dixie State JC in Utah. He made his major league debut on May 8, 2005. was burned slightly and suffered smoke inhalation Smoke Inhalation Definition Smoke inhalation is breathing in the harmful gases, vapors, and particulate matter contained in smoke. Description Smoke inhalation typically occurs in victims or firefighters caught in structural fires. and a cut to his hand as he rescued Robert Bjorne, 46, engulfed in flames In Flames is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden founded in 1990. Along with Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates, they pioneered what is now known as melodic death metal. from a van fire at Via Princessa and Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling . ``This man is a hero,'' said Capt. Don Rodriguez, commander of the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. sheriff's station. ``It shows you the quality of the deputies we have working here. He risked his life to save another person.'' Bjorne suffered second- and third-degree burns to more than 60 percent of his body. He was initially treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and then transported to the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks Hopital (SOH) is an 153 bed acute care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, USA and is home of world renowned the Grossman Burn Center. SOH is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. . ``I didn't realize anyone was inside until I heard his screams,'' Thompson said as he was being treated for his injuries in the emergency room at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. Thompson, 39, a deputy for 14 years, was on routine patrol when he saw the 1979 Dodge van on fire. He saw the passenger get out safely, but then heard screams and sprang into action. Thompson saw Bjorne in the door frame on the driver's side, trying to get out but trapped by flames leaping on both sides. ``He was panicking to get out but couldn't move because he was still strapped in,'' Thompson said. ``I pulled out my knife, and at the same time the seat belt snapped.'' Bjorne fell to the ground and Thompson dragged him to safety. ``I thought once I moved him he would be all right,'' Thompson said, ``but he was still one fire.'' Thompson rolled Bjorne on the ground with help from a city worker and a deputy who put out the remaining flames with fire extinguishers. Thompson said he is glad he was near and able to help. ``Anybody would have done it,'' Thompson said. ``I just hope the guy's OK.'' Sheriff's Department officials gathered outside the hospital. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if the guy would have been able to get out if the deputy wasn't there,'' Rodriguez said. ``He is a hero.'' Bjorne is a resident at the Bible Tabernacle Tabernacle (tăb`ərnăk'əl), in the Bible, the portable holy place of the Hebrews during their desert wanderings. It was a tent, like the portable tent-shrines used by ancient Semites, set up in each camp; eventually it housed the Ark , a Christian ministry and rehabilitation center for alcoholics and drug addicts. He was driving the organization's van to the Sepulveda Veterans Affairs hospital with a co- worker to pick up another resident when the van caught fire. ``We're all praying for him,'' said Marcial Martinez, a volunteer at the center. ``He's a real nice guy. Hopefully, he'll be all right.'' Bjorne came to the center for treatment about nine years ago and now lives there as a volunteer worker. ``Bobby is one who found peace here and decided to stay,'' said Mario Harper, director of operations for the Bible Tabernacle. ``He's one of our trusted volunteers.'' Harper said the van had just been serviced and appeared to be functioning well. He said Bjorne and the other staff member in the van, David Pennington, didn't realize that the vehicle was on fire until a passing motorist flagged them. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Firefighters douse douse 1 also dowse v. doused also dowsed, dous·ing also dows·ing, dous·es also dows·es v.tr. 1. To plunge into liquid; immerse. See Synonyms at dip. 2. hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. in a van whose driver was burned on most of his body. A deputy dragged him to safety. (2 -- color) Deputy Brad Thompson, being treated for cuts and burns suffered in the rescue, pulled a badly burned driver to safety Tuesday. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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