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Mesa police officers speak out after saving unconscious woman from burning apartment

Posted at 8:02 PM, Aug 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-23 23:02:17-04

With a combination of training and sheer bravery, two Mesa police officers explain how they saved an unconscious woman from her burning apartment.

Officers Jake Campbell and Mike Mullen explained they were in the area of Dobson Road and Southern Avenue last Thursday. They were wrapping up another call, when a man came up, saying there was a fire in an apartment complex.

"In the moment, you just focus on how you can help the most people possible," officer Campbell said.

The officer's body camera video was released Wednesday.

It shows the officers kicking in the door of a second-story apartment. They discharged fire extinguishers before they carried an unconscious woman down a walkway to safety.  As the flames erupted, several apartments were engulfed. One of the officers called for backup as they busted down more doors and evacuated neighbors.

"It's kind of something that's in the back of our minds, just try to remain calm and try to just take care of business," Officer Mullen said.

The officers say the video doesn't show how the apartment residents helped them by bringing fire extinguishers and carrying the woman farther away from the fire. That woman recovered, but she was later arrested and accused of starting the fire.

Officers Campbell and Mullen were treated for smoke inhalation.They are downplaying their heroics. They say they're just glad no one was seriously hurt.