CALISTOGA, CA — An off-duty Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy is credited with saving a woman from a burning house, the sheriff’s office said this week.
It happened around 5:40 a.m. Saturday, March 23 on Urbani Place. Deputy Aviña was in the area and heard cries for help, then saw a house on fire.
As Aviña briefly spoke with a resident, he saw the house next door to where he stood was beginning to catch fire. He woke up the residents of the house and helped them evacuate. As he headed to wake up more residents who were in danger, he found out a woman was still inside the burning house.
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The home was fully engulfed in flames as he broke down a side gate to find a way into the house. There, he saw a woman’s head. She was sticking her hand through a doggie door built into a door that accesses the home’s garage.
That door was locked.
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With the help of a Calistoga police officer, Aviña kicked the door open and pulled the woman out of the house to safety. The woman was one of two people taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the fire, officials said.
It was reported that one home was destroyed in the early-morning blaze. The fire spread to a second home and was contained in the attic of that home, according to the Napa County Fire Department which sent six fire engine crews and other resources to help the Calistoga Fire Department battle the blaze.
A dog reportedly died in the fire. Crews were able to spare another dog found near the fire.
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Aviña, who was not injured during the rescue, was praised for his heroic actions.
“This is the culture of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office: saving lives because it’s the right thing to do, even when you’re not working,” Sheriff Eddie Engram said. “I’m proud of Deputy Aviña for acting quickly and saving this woman’s life.”
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