Five law enforcement officers proved to be heroes in the early morning hours of Saturday as they rushed into a burning building on Dale Street to save Jimmy Broom.
First responders received the call just after 3 a.m. that Broom’s living room was on fire and discovered that he was trapped in a back bedroom. Curtis Dement, Tyler Creel, Shane Saucier and Merrell Porter of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and James Burns of the Columbia Police Department arrived on scene prior to the Columbia Fire Department.
Talking to Broom through the window, the officers learned that Broom was unable to make it out of the home by himself as he was struggling to breathe from smoke inhalation. Porter then broke the glass window, and Dement and Burns went into Broom’s bedroom through the small opening and pulled Broom out to safety.
“By the time we got there and started stretching the line to start the fire attack, they got (Broom) out and our guys started providing medical aid to him until the ambulance could get there,” Columbia Fire Chief Lyle Berard said.
Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall and Chief Deputy Jamie Singley commended the efforts of their deputies. Columbia Police Chief Michael Kelly said he would expect any of his officers to step up like Burns did, but that doesn’t take away his pride in Burns’ heroism.
“We have exceptional people who work (at the CPD), and Burns is one of those exceptional people. I was very proud when I got the call early Saturday morning about what had happened, but I wasn’t surprised,” Kelly said. “We were at the right place at the right time and were able to save a life.”
Broom was transported to Marion General Hospital by AAA Ambulance and transferred to Jackson to treat his injuries.
“We would like to thank the first responders for saving my uncle Jimmy,” Broom’s niece, Elizabeth Montgomery, said on behalf of the family. “They did an amazing job, and he wouldn’t be here now without them. He’s in the ICU in Jackson, but he is stable. We still can’t believe this is real and are just so grateful they got there as fast as they did and got him out.”
