The burning townhouse in Dorchester where Officer Luis Lopez helped saved 18 residents. (Photo: MyFoxBoston)
Not just a hero but a humble one too.
The Boston Police Department is crediting Officer Luis Lopez with saving the lives of residents of a Dorchester townhouse that caught fire over the weekend.
“Thanks to Officer Lopez,” a statement released by the BPD read, “material items, items measured in dollars and cents, were the only casualties of the fire.”
The fire started around 8 p.m. on Saturday night, and Officer Lopez was the first responder at the townhouse where 18 people, including 4 children, reside.
“You could see the flames and it didn’t look good. As soon as I exited my cruiser, people started pointing to the building and yelling that there were still people inside," Lopez said, according to MyFoxBoston.
Lopez is a 12 year veteran of the BPD, and he wasted no time.
"I immediately entered the building and started knocking on doors, kicking doors in and ordering people to evacuate the building," he said.
Asked whether he considered himself a hero, Lopez answered, “While I appreciate the compliment. I’m not a hero. I’m a police officer. This is what we do. This is what we signed up for, and I’m grateful I was able to make a difference today.”
He added, “I’m just happy everybody got out alive. One guy was sound asleep when I kicked in his door. I know I startled him but I’m just glad we got him out," he said.
According to the Boston Globe, one firefighter suffered a back injury fighting the blaze, which is estimated as causing $500,000 in damage.
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