They were helped by a mail carrier, the Tampa Police Department said.

TAMPA – A Tampa Police sergeant rescued a 68-year-old disabled man trapped in a burning house Friday (June 9).

Tampa police also rescued two dogs from the burning home.

Terry Sims, 68, the man who was rescued, was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Tampa police Sgt. Larry Brass and Larry Moss, a carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, were also taken to the hospital to be checked out. A Tampa firefighter was treated for a minor burn.

The emergency call came about 1:20 p.m. about a fire at a home on N Greenwood Avenue. Brass and three other Tampa police officers arrived first and learned from Moss, who delivers mail on that route, that Sims was unable to walk and so could not get out of the house.

The officers knocked out a window in the front of the house and tried to get inside but the smoke was too thick to see through and made breathing impossible. Brass, a 19-year veteran with the Tampa Police Department, got a gas mask from his car. He was able to get into the house through the window and was able to bring Sims to the window. He was able to hand Sims to the other officers.

Brass also rescued a pit bull named Tank. A second pit bull was in the back of the house. Tampa police Officer Peter Sierra kicked out an air conditioning unit to create a hole in the wall. which was used to rescue, Rosie, the second dog.

Tampa Fire Rescue had the fire under control at 1:51 p.m.

Fire officials said the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction possibly related to an air conditioning unit. The home is considered a total loss with damage to the home and contents estimated at $325,000.

For information about the Tampa police, go to tampagov.net.

Tampa Police | Tampa Fire Rescue | Dog Rescue | Larry Brass | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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