Body camera video shows rescue from Brookfield house fire

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Body camera video shows a dramatic rescue as two Brookfield Police officers pull a disabled woman from a burning home.

The fire happened in the early morning hours of December 14th. The two officers were closest to the fire when the call came in, and they went into the home without any oxygen or special gear to make the rescue.

She can be heard screaming "Help."

The officers were inhaling smoke inside the burning home as they found out the woman was disabled, and she wasn't able to walk. The team carried her down the front steps.

Once everyone was out safely, they can be heard coughing, the woman asking for oxygen.

The officers stayed with the woman for around eight minutes until a paramedic arrived. She tells officers she thinks her back has been burned.

“Prior to our arrival occupants began evacuating and our city of Brookfield police officers assisted with that evacuation," said Charlie Myers, Brookfield Fire Chief.

"Crews arrived on scene and found fire in the rear of the building. We started immediate fire attack because two of the occupants of the building needed to be evaluated medically... we transported two civilians from the house to the hospital.”

There is now a GoFundMe page for the woman rescued by police, Pat Cwiklinski and her husband Jerry. The family lived in that same home for 20 years, and everything to assist with Pat's disability has been destroyed. 

"They made memories with their 3 sons and their families."

All four people inside the house that night did get out with their lives.

Cwiklinski told police, "I didn't think I was going to make it.”

They quickly responded, “We wouldn't let that happen.”

The homeowner says six cats were inside at the time of the fire. It's unknown whether they made it out.