Rescue
GPD’s Govel pulls elderly pair from fire

GUILDERLAND — Two elderly residents were pulled through the window of a burning house at 464 Church Rd. by a Guilderland Police officer yesterday morning.

The daring rescue was performed by Officer John Govel, who sustained a small cut on his hand from the broken window, but there were no serious injuries as a result of his actions.
"Did he save their lives" I would say yes," said Westmere Fire Chief William Swartz.

The main body of the home sustained extensive fire damage and the additions to the home were completely destroyed, Swartz told The Enterprise. The fire was under control within an hour, but continued to smolder throughout the morning.

The fire caused Church Road to be closed to all traffic until 8:45 that morning. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Swartz said.

As the first officer on the scene, Govel broke through the front door, attempting to reach the two residents inside, but was unable to gain access because of the intense fire and smoke, Swartz said. Hearing the couple inside the house, Govel got a hammer from a neighbor and broke out a first-floor window, then called out to them.

Govel first pulled out the female resident, then the male resident, and they waited for the emergency medical service teams to arrive. The man and woman were removed from the burning building within two minutes and the male resident was taken to St. Peter’s Hospital for smoke inhalation and released, police say.
"We don’t want to endanger individuals by entering a burning building unprotected"I think it was a great choice to pull them through the window," Swartz said. Swartz believes that Govel’s swift actions saved the residents from severe danger.

A McKownville firefighter was also treated at a local hospital for a pre-existing condition, according to Swartz.

The fire, which was difficult to contain, caused several fire departments and emergency crews to respond including Guilderland, Westmere, McKownville, Fort Hunter, and Guilderland Center, which was the designated cover company for the other departments.