A Missouri City Police Sergeant back on patrol for less than a week pulled a mentally handicapped man from a burning home last night, possibly saving his life.
The Missouri City Fire Department and police were called to the home at 1511 Willowmill around 10 p.m. last night. Sergeant Pete Paske, a 14-year veteran of the department, was the first to arrive. Paske had just returned to patrol duty after working for years in the criminal investigation division of the department. He noticed several people standing outside and around the residence, and saw smoke coming from the home.
A neighbor told Paske that he did not know if there was anyone inside the home, but that Paske could get into the house through a side garage door. Paske kicked open the side door, and saw a layer of heavy black smoke near the ceiling of the garage. Paske entered the kitchen through the garage. He walked through the house, and headed towards the bedrooms, where he saw two closed doors.
He opened the first door, and saw a man asleep in one of the three beds in the room. Paske woke him up and told him he needed to leave the residence, but the man panicked and began screaming, refusing to leave the room. Paske tried to get him up, but the smoke was so thick he was having a hard time seeing. Paske was unaware at the time that the man was mentally handicapped.
Paske left the room to check the other closed door, and was forced to crawl on the ground when he opened it and was immediately overcome by thick, black smoke. He crawled into the room and saw two empty beds, and a third bed that was on fire. The fire was so intense a window was blown out. Paske crawled over to the third bed to make sure it was empty, which it was.
Paske returned to the resident, who was still screaming and refusing to leave. Paske pulled him by his arms, and led him out of the house, kneeling down to avoid the smoke, promising the man that they would come back to “get his shoes.”
Both Paske and the resident made it out of the house unharmed, and the fire department had the blaze under control quickly. Four other residents of the home were outside, having escaped before Paske got there.
This is an inspiring story!
Way to go Pete! Thank you for your service.