Dustin E. Hibbard helped to save Charity D. Vaughn from burning, Lewiston, Idaho, November 28, 2010. Vaughn, 35, was in her second-floor apartment after its neighboring unit caught fire at night and filled the apartment with dense smoke. On duty, Hibbard, 32, police officer, responded to the scene after being alerted to the fire, as did other officers. Hearing Vaughn screaming, Hibbard and other officers set out to locate her. They ascended a set of outside stairs to reach the back door to Vaughn’s apartment. After Hibbard kicked in the door, one of the other officers went to his stomach and crawled into the kitchen. Despite heavy smoke in the apartment that severely restricted visibility, Hibbard followed at his heels, also crawling. Then seeing Vaughn in her bedroom, the other officer told her to go to the floor. He grabbed her by the wrist and began to pull on her, Hibbard joining him. Standing, Hibbard grasped Vaughn and pulled on her as the other officer pushed, and in that fashion they retraced their path, taking her across the floor to the back door. After helping Vaughn regain her footing, the officers aided her down the stairs to safety. Hibbard suffered smoke inhalation, for which he required hospital treatment.
84968 – 9604
84968-9604