Christopher Brooks King rescued Kimberly N. Rodriguez from burning, Roswell, New Mexico, January 31, 2014. Rodriguez, 38, was inside her one-story house after fire broke out at night in a bedroom and filled the structure with dense smoke. On duty, King, 29, police officer, responded to the scene. Learning that the house was occupied, he kicked open the front door, entered the living room, and, calling out, searched for Rodriguez. Unsuccessful in the deteriorating conditions, King exited the house, ran to its back door, which was open, and re-entered. Going to the floor in the dense smoke, which precluded visibility, King crawled through the kitchen, again calling for Rodriguez. He heard her reply and then found her, at a point about 12 feet into the house, lying on the floor near flames that were advancing from the bedroom. King stood and grasped Rodriguez, who was by then unconscious, but found that he could not lift her. Nearly overcome by smoke himself, he dragged Rodriguez by the arm through the kitchen and outside to safety. He collapsed there. Both Rodriguez and King were taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, Rodriguez requiring admission.
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