Dash cam video shows deputy, good Samaritans rescue wheelchair bound man from Eaton house

PREBLE COUNTY — News Center 7 obtained new cruiser cam video from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office that shows a new perspective of the moments a deputy and two Good Samaritans worked together to save a man from his burning home in Eaton last month.

His home on the corner of North Barron Street and Debbie Drive caught fire September 22.

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Preble County Deputy Andrew Forrer was a couple blocks away when he heard the call for the fire and rushed to the house in his cruiser. The video from his dash cam shows thick black smoke billowing from the home and over the trees as he’s driving north on Barron towards the house.

When Forrer pulled up to the house, two Good Samaritans, Tim Crase and Alan Miller, were helping the man who lives there, who’s in a wheelchair, out of the house. But one of them had gone back in to get the man’s dog, and he got turned around in the house because of the thick black smoke. So, Forrer went into the home to help guide him and the dog to safety.

When News Center 7 asked Forrer if he had any firefighting experience, he said, “I’ve been around the fire service my entire life. My dad’s a retired volunteer fire fighter.”

The City of Eaton recognized Forrer, Crase and Miller at the city council meeting Monday night. The trio got special recognition from Eaton Fire and EMS Chief Brian Smith and Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson. The three got a big applause from the crowd at the meeting. Sheriff Simpson also gave Forrer a commendation from the Buckeye Sheriff’s Association.

Deputy Forrer told News Center 7 he appreciates the honor, “It’s nice. Humbling,” he said. But he wants nothing to do with the spotlight. He’s humbly heaping praise toward Crase and Miller. “I think it’s part of my job,” Forrer said. “Those gentlemen here with me, I felt like they deserve everything -- all the credit. They had no obligation to do anything and they stepped up and that was awesome.”

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Cox Media Group