An off-duty Arizona fire captain is being credited with helping two people escape a burning home earlier this month in Prescott after taking swift action before firefighters arrived.
According to the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, Captain and Health and Safety Officer Brody Fields was driving with his wife, Taylor, on December 13 when he noticed a large column of smoke near Ponderosa Park Road. Recognizing the urgency, Fields immediately went to investigate.
When he arrived, one side of the home had already been damaged by fire, and smoke was present inside the residence. Fields entered the house and conducted a quick search, helping a non-ambulatory resident exit safely before returning to assist a second occupant out of the home.
Authorities say Fields also retrieved several essential personal items for the residents, including eyeglasses, a cellphone, and a safe, before conditions worsened.
While awaiting the arrival of on-duty crews, Fields and his wife used a garden hose to suppress small pockets of fire around a wood-burning stove, helping to keep the flames from spreading further through the structure. Once firefighters arrived, Fields briefed them on the situation inside the home and then turned the scene over to responding crews.
Fire officials praised the couple’s actions, noting that their quick response and teamwork helped protect lives and limit damage until firefighters could fully take over. No serious injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation.
