He saw the burst of flames. He felt his skin burning. But Chase Chappell had a job to do.
Chappell, who has been with the Clinton Fire Department for 19 months, had just come off an 18-month rookie probation and responded to a structure fire call with his team Monday night.
Fellow Clinton firefighter Jay Barlow said the crew learned on the way to the home on Oak Hill Circle that one person was unaccounted for and still inside the home.
Barlow said flames were coming through the front door when firefighters arrived on scene. They stretched a hose to the front door and Chappell began extinguishing the blaze, Barlow said.
Barlow said he could see the entryway into the master bedroom from the front door. As Chappell knocked down flames with the house, Barlow went into the home and found a man inside the bedroom.