OPD officers honored in house fire rescue

The Olney City Council and Police Chief Dan Birbeck commended three OPD officers for bravery in the line of duty for rescuing three men from a house fire on Feb. 22.

The three officers, Sgt. Dustin Hudson, Cpl. Joe Logan and Officer Montana Cordell, were treated for smoke inhalation in the fire at the residence south of Olney on FM 3329.

Officer Cordell was hospitalized overnight at Olney Hamilton Hospital.

The three officers discovered the house fully engulfed in flames when they arrived and safely evacuated the three male residents.

One of the men re-entered the burning house to try to save several pets but the OPD officers intervened, Chief Birbeck said.

Body cam footage showed Officer Cordell and Sgt. Hudson warning the man to exit them home, then reaching into a broken window and pulling him to safety.

Unfortunately, the animals could not be saved, Chief Birbeck said.

At the City Council’s April 22 meeting, Chief Birbeck bestowed Police Commendation Awards on Officer Cordell and Cpl. Logan.

Sgt. Hudson received the Life Saving Award for pulling the man out of the window.

“You are deserving of the highest commendation for your exceptional bravery and willingness to confront peril in the service of others, even at great personal risk,” he said.