VIDEO: A man is still in critical condition after he was rescued from a burning apartment near NW 23rd Avenue and Overton Street last week. FOX 12 spoke with the firefighters who went into the building to save the manโs life. Firefighters Diana Cruz and Dave Martin with Portland Fire & Rescue were tasked with rescuing anyone trapped inside during the fire. Cruz went in the front door, while Martin when in through a second story window. โIt was dark and smoking because I couldnโt see,โ said Martin. โIโm using mostly touch to feel my way around the room and my first priority is life saving and Iโm looking for any victims in the room.โ
When Martin found someone unconscious on the floor, he yelled. โI heard our โvictim victim victimโ from Dave so I made my way to the room and found Dave and we communicated was it easier to exit out the front door or if the window was our best option,โ said Cruz. They then went out the window and down the ladder.
The victimโs family asked from privacy at this time, but told FOX 12 he is still in critical condition and on a respirator. The family says he has gone through skin graft surgeries, and they are just thankful he is alive. โIt gives us a sense of purpose and hope that we gave this individual a fighting chance,โ Martin said. โWe gave them the best possible chance to fight for his life so that means a lot.โ
