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Heroic Deputies Recount Rushing Into Burning Apt. Building

Posted at 9:32 PM, Feb 25, 2013
and last updated 2013-02-25 23:04:13-05

KENTWOOD, Mich. — The Kent County Sheriff’s Department is commending six deputies for their brave actions early Monday morning during a fire at Woodfield Apartments.

Deputies Kevin Daley, Jason Postma, Ed Kolakowski, Julie Vogelzang, Joel Langeland and Andrew Jonkman arrived at the scene before firefighters and rushed in after hearing that there may still be people trapped inside.

“We were there, we had to take action,” explained Deputy Kevin Daley. “All six of us went in…it wasn’t a thought, it was I know we have to go up there.”

The group crawled through the thick smoke to get upstairs, where they were able to find and rescue a family of four from inside their apartment.

The deputies, along with the four residents had to be treated for smoke inhalation but they are expected to be OK.

Watch the video above to hear the deputies recount what happened.