YORK COUNTY, Pa. – A Southern Regional Officer is credited with saving the life of a man from a burning home Sunday night. At about 8:40 p.m. Sunday evening, police responded to the 100 block of North Constitution Avenue in New Freedom Borough for a structure fire in a duplex home.
Officers arrived on scene within two minutes and found a row home engulfed in flames. They were then told that a person was still inside the home.
Officer Michael Miller ran to the rear of the home and yelled inside the back door for anyone to call out if they were inside. At first there was no response and Officer Miller yelled again. From inside the dwelling a male’s voice responded.
Officer Miller, knowing it was too dangerous to enter the home, instructed the male to drop to the ground and crawl to the sound of his voice. The male made an attempt to crawl toward Officer Miller but was overcome by the thick smoke. Officer Miller entered the home, located the male and was able to drag him to safety. The male was treated on the scene with smoke inhalation.
Officer Miller, a United States Navy veteran, joined the Southern Regional Police Department in May 2000.
The fire was under control within 25 minutes. The fire began in the living of 108 North Constitution Avenue. It has been ruled accidental. The fire caused heavy damage to the first floor. The adjoining duplex has minimal smoke damage.