In a dramatic and heroic rescue, Redmond Police officers Jeremy Rutledge, Riley Powell, and Sergeant Jered Kirk saved a family of five from their burning home on July 5. The incident, captured on body camera footage, unfolded at 1:22 a.m. on NW Redwood Avenue, where two neighboring homes caught fire.
The footage shows the officers running toward the engulfed house, with Officer Powell's bodycam capturing the intense moments as another officer repeatedly kicks the door before it finally gives way. "First thing is we got to get in," Powell told Central Oregon Daily. "My main priority is getting people out of the house because no one's answering the door."
The police officers faced a heavily fortified door, which made entry challenging. "It takes a couple of attempts to get into the house. That's a very fortified dead-bolted door," explained Redmond Police Public Information Officer Lt. Eric Beckwith.
Once inside, the officers quickly searched for the family, with Powell leading the way. "We checked all the rooms as thoroughly and as fast as possible," Powell said. Familiar with the layout, he directed the search upstairs where he believed the family might be. Their efforts paid off as they successfully evacuated Annette Garcia and her family.
Garcia recalled the terrifying ordeal, "Hearing, like 'police, Redmond police,' and then they pound open the door. It was really scary in the moment because I didn't know what was going to happen."
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Redmond Fire and Rescue identified discarded fireworks near combustibles as the cause of the blaze. Lt. Beckwith noted the constant vigilance required on such nights, "The 4th of July night is never not busy for police officers all the way into the early hours of the morning."
Chief Devin Lewis publicly commended the officers' bravery during a July 9 City Council meeting, highlighting their training and composure under pressure. Officer Rutledge reflected on the experience, "You just go back to your training and rely on your peers, and you just do your best to communicate in a high-stress situation."
Despite the intense situation, the officers managed to prevent further tragedy. "Huge feeling of relief, making sure everyone was out of the house safely," Powell said. "It was kind of just a weight off your shoulders."
Fundraisers have been established to support the displaced families, including the Garcias and Mike and Wei. The community's response underscores the collective effort to help those in need during such devastating events.
Rutledge expressed his empathy, "You just hope the best for the Garcia family and all families involved. My heart goes out to them."
This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms and safe disposal of fireworks, as well as the dedication and heroism of our local police force.
