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Travis firefighter rescues woman from burning building

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  7/25/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When Chris Muriset left Travis Air Force Base to visit his girlfriend in San Leandro, California during his off-duty break, he didn't know his work would follow him.

Muriset works at the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department. He has quelled more than 50 wildland, aircraft, structural and vehicle fires in locations both stateside and deployed. However, throughout his firefighting career he never encountered a fire that required his attention off duty.

That remained true until 1:30 a.m. July 11, 2014, when he was awakened by neighbors pounding on the door and screaming about a fire.

"I was half asleep, and the people outside started talking about my truck being on fire," he said. "So I threw on a shirt and grabbed my keys to check on it."

As Muriset approached his truck, he could see flames in the distance. However, on closer inspection he discovered it was not his truck on fire, but the apartment building behind it, he said. Fully awake upon sight of the fire, Muriset scaled the fence separating him from the apartment to see if he could help.

"As I walked toward the front door it was dark," the Hayward, California native said. "There were no lights, but I noticed a man sitting on the steps that led to the second floor. When I got closer, I noticed he was having trouble breathing and his body was covered in third-degree burns."

The man was conscious, but unable to answer Muriset's questions regarding whether or not someone else was inside the house.

"I told him that I would be right back, and that's when I tried to enter the front door. It was a black security door made of iron," he said. "I didn't have the tools with me to get in, so I had to find another way."

Muriset circled the burning building to the opposite side and found a window that was hot to the touch.

"I didn't want to bust out the window without knowing if anybody was inside," he said. "If I took the window out it would pull the fire toward the opening and cause more destruction."

As Muriset considered these consequences, three neighbors approached and asked if they could assist.

"After I told them what was going on, I sent them to see if they could get more answers out of the man on the front steps," Muriset said. "They were able to find out that his wife was still inside, and that's when I knew we had to break the window."

One of the neighbors grabbed a shovel and broke the window. Muriset cleared it of debris, yelled for the woman and waited for any sign of response.

Upon hearing the woman's voice, Muriset attempted to climb into the burning building.

"I got half of my body inside of the window, but it was too hot and the smoke was too thick," he said. "I had to get back out and instructed her to come toward the sound of my voice. I just kept talking to her so she knew what direction to move toward."

While Muriset's voice led the woman to the window and away from the fire, Muriset said he knew there was only a 30-second time span before the fire would begin heading toward the window, consuming everything in its path.

"At about 15 to 20 seconds, I finally felt her grab my outstretched hand," he said. "It was a relief that we got her. The people that helped me were ecstatic and I was excited too."

After Muriset and a neighbor safely had the woman out of the building, the first police officer arrived on scene.

"I let him know I was a firefighter and what had just happened," he said. "Then we both checked and cleared the surrounding buildings to make sure no one else was inside."

According to Muriset, a total of six fire engines, one rescue vehicle and 15 police cars responded to the fire. Responders were able to enter the building and rescue the woman's cat and dog. The man was hospitalized for third-degree burns while the woman suffered from smoke inhalation.

Muriset ended the eventful morning by checking on the couple one last time, then leaving the scene before the media could ask him for an interview.

"In my mind, I'm a firefighter 24/7," Muriset said. "Every time I train I take it seriously. Whether I'm on duty or off duty, I'm there for anybody who needs help."