BLOOMINGDALE, Staten Island (WABC) — A daring rescue was caught on camera when an off-duty officer ripped down a fence to get into a back yard to help save two girls and their mother from a fire.<\/p>\n
The fire happened last Tuesday on Rensselaer Avenue<\/a>, but the heroic officer, Lt. James Heinz, spoke out about the rescue on Monday.<\/p>\n “The front door was already up in flames, I couldn’t get in, so I was trying to run down the driveway and there’s a fence in the back yard, you heard people yelling so I knew people were inside, so I had to break down their fence,” Heinz said.<\/p>\n Heinz tore down the fence and then ripped out a window – all with his bare hands – to get the girls out of the burning house.<\/p>\n “The two kids were inside and we ripped out that window and just took them right out that window,” Heinz said.<\/p>\n The two girls, ages 5 and 11, a mom, grandmother and adult son were all safe.<\/p>\n Tragically before the fire, the family lost their patriarch, and his remains were another worry, but the ashes were later recovered.<\/p>\n While Heinz is a police officer, he is not a firefighter.<\/p>\n “I have 13 years of experience, you never know what when the day is gonna come,” he said. “No time to panic, it’s just…you had to act.”<\/p>\n By the way, he did it in short sleeves, and apparently it’s in his blood<\/p>\n “Ironically enough, my brother is a fireman and he actually responded,” Heinz said.<\/p>\n The little girls also were heroic and grabbed their uncle.<\/p>\n “From what I understand, one the little girls alerted him first, luckily she alerted them and they tried to put it out first and it spread,” Heinz said.<\/p>\n Heinz said quick thinking and quick action is just what they do.<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n * More Staten Island news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts<\/a> <\/p>\n * Follow us on YouTube<\/a> <\/p>\n
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