A police officer rescued a man trapped on the roof of a burning house in Rock Island Friday morning.
Officer Dan Johnson was on patrol just four blocks from the scene when the fire broke out, and found Floyd Horne trapped on the porch awning. Horne had helped rescue four of his family members who were trapped on the second floor, including three children, by dropping them out of a second story window into the arms of an adult who escaped the fire.
Then, Horne found himself trapped, the fire forcing him to head for the roof, with flames following.
A neighbor gave Officer Johnson a ladder, and he helped guide a shaken and scared Horne to safety. Initially, he had to be coaxed, a bit disoriented and confused.
"I told him you have to come down, if you want to live. If you want to live, you have to come down", said Officer Johnson, who has been on the Rock Island Police Department just over two years.
Horne says he's grateful.
"He was right there helping me. Trying to talk me down. Give me courage, the police officer, he was there for me", said Horne.
And Horne was there for his family. The house is a total loss, the family had no insurance, but he says they are blessed because everyone made it out alive.
The fire was reported at about 8 a.m. Friday, February 22, 2013 at a home in the 1500 block of Seventh Street. Emergency dispatchers told first responders the residents were trapped on the roof of the burning home.
Heavy smoke was visible from the house as emergency crews arrived.
No injuries were reported.
The Red Cross was called to help the four adults and three children who live in the home.