OKC firefighter reflects on car fire rescue that saved person’s life

Earlier this month, several Oklahoma City Firefighters and OKC Police officers helped pull a person from the burning car with only minutes to spare. Maj. Ryan Tyson with OKCFD struggled to find the words for how they accomplished their rescue, but the result is the reason he goes to work every day.  

This story began on Feb. 10 with two vehicles that crashed near Hefner Road and North MacArthur Boulevard. At a Wednesday news conference, Tyson reflected on how the response ended. 

“I can’t tell you - I don’t really know how we got him out,” Tyson said. “I’m very grateful that it’s a good story. Fortunately, we were just down the street.” 

Multiple OCPD officers did what they could before Tyson’s team showed up to help with the rescue. 

“There were several officers trying to get the person out,” Tyson said. 

The jaws of life weren't an option. 

“In those conditions, we didn’t have time,” Tyson said. 

The heat of the moment grew figuratively, and literally as emergency crews raced against time. 

“There was a lot going on. The airbag was starting to melt,” Tyson said. “It was starting to burn my hand. The video really doesn’t do justice for what the officers did before we got there.” 

Tyson said the efforts of police officers were crucial to saving that person’s life. 

“The officers had taken the top of the door and bent it down,” Tyson said. “They don’t have the protection that we do, but they were still doing everything they could do to get him out.”  

When they arrived, the trapped person had a pulse, and they left with a pulse. That fact is something Tyson said reinforces the mission they pursue as public servants. 

“It’s pretty awesome,” Tyson said. “I love it. We were really fortunate that it worked out the way it did,” Tyson said.