By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Two police officers rescued a 7-year-old boy trapped in an apartment fire July 29.
The boy’s mother, Salsabeel Tolbda, called 911 after a fire broke out on the stove in her kitchen about 5 p.m. She was able to escape the apartment with her seven-month-old daughter, but not her son who ran upstairs.
Sgt. Tim Zawacki and Cpl. Scott Keller were dispatched to the apartment complex in the 6800 block of Country Lane. They arrived on the scene before firefighters.
A resident standing nearby gave his T-shirt to the officer as protection for his mouth.
Keller entered the building searching for the boy, Yusuff Salem, who Keller was able to locate through the boy’s screams from the top of the stairs.
Keller and Yusuff were treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital and released.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at zeinabnajm92@gmail.com.)