Off-duty cops pull man from burning home

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) - A man is alive thanks to the quick-thinking of two off-duty police officers, who helped pull the victim from a burning home in Lockport.

Lt. Todd Chenez and Officer Michael Stover aren't firefighters, and both have little to no fire training. But like many first responders, there was never a question of "if" they would help.

"It's just what we do when somebody asks for help. We help," Lt. Chenez said.

Lt. Chenez and Officer Stover are two of about a dozen Lockport Police training for the Buffalo Marathon. The two were off work and out for a three-mile jog Monday afternoon, when they turned down Hawley Street.

A man doing woodwork in his basement was trapped when flames broke out in his home, and smoke quickly spread through the house. The man's wife ran outside for help and that's when the two police officers policemen came jogging by.

"The lady said, 'My husband is inside the house. He's not coming out.' So we went to the back of the house and we saw a bunch of smoke billowing out of the back of the door and Mike and I ran into the house," Lt. Chenez said.

Harold Storms, 69, was passed out in the basement. Lt. Chenez and Officer Stover tried to carry him out, but the man was just too heavy. That's when they got the help of two more Lockport Police officers, Anthony Pittman and Heather Rohde, who showed up responding to the 911 call.

"He was a large man and you have the four of us in a small compacted area and trying to lift him up and manuever your way around stuff and you couldn't see where you were going, you had no idea where you were," Lt. Chenez described.

Once outside, Officer Stover collapsed, fighting to breath.

Lt. Chenez said, "He was starving for air, he wanted air and he was also coughing up black stuff."

Officer Stover was treated at the hospital for smoke inhilation, and spent part of the evening in the ICU. But he is now at home on bed rest.

Storms remains in the hospital.

Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert said, "The victim was probably within a few seconds of death. He was brought out of the house unresponsive and blue. The fact that repeatedly went back in to find this gentleman and bring him out were the key factors that saved this man's life."

Lt. Chenez, as well as Officers Pittman and Rohde, were all also treated for smoke inhalation, but were released.