'It’s burning in there!': Chilling video captures deputies’ race to save trapped Florida man
PALM COAST, FLORIDA: A dramatic rescue captured on body camera has left thousands praising two Florida sheriff’s deputies after they rushed toward a burning home while its trapped owner screamed for help.
The now-viral footage shows thick black smoke swallowing the property as the officers split responsibilities in seconds, one racing to pull the stranded man to safety while the other battles the advancing flames with a fire extinguisher until firefighters arrive.
A desperate cry for help leads deputies straight into a house fire.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 3, 2026
Police in Florida arrived on the scene to find thick black smoke pouring from the home, then hear the homeowner screaming from the backyard patio, unable to walk and just feet from the flames.
As one officer… pic.twitter.com/tBD4KB2Tvq
Florida deputies race against time
The video, first released by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, begins with deputies arriving outside a home after receiving reports of smoke pouring from the property.
Before they even reach the front door, frantic cries can be heard. "It’s burning in there!" "I tried to call you guys!"
As the deputies move closer, they find the front of the house engulfed in dense black smoke. Realising someone is still inside, they quickly head toward the backyard.
There, they discover the homeowner stranded on a rear patio, unable to walk and only a short distance from the growing flames.
The man can be heard crying out in pain as smoke continues filling the air around him.
Without hesitation, one deputy reaches the homeowner, lifts him from the patio and drags him away from the fire toward safety.
At the very same moment, another deputy grabs a nearby fire extinguisher and begins spraying the flames, trying to slow the fire's advance long enough for the rescue to be completed.
The entire scene unfolds in a matter of seconds, with smoke swirling around the officers as they work together under intense pressure.
Once the homeowner had been evacuated, firefighters from the Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue arrived and fully extinguished the blaze.
Authorities have not released details about what caused the fire or the homeowner's medical condition beyond confirming he was successfully rescued.
It’s not every day that a Deputy Sheriff is a fireman too, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is there to help! 🧯
— Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (@FlaglerSheriff) July 30, 2026
On July 29, deputies responded to a call from a driver that smoke was coming from a home on… pic.twitter.com/2NVW2HdEln
Dramatic rescue stuns viewers
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the incident happened on July 29 after a passing driver reported smoke coming from a home on Westmoreland Drive in Palm Coast.
Deputies were the first emergency responders to reach the address.
When they encountered heavy smoke at the front entrance, they heard desperate screams coming from behind the house and immediately began searching for the source.
That search led them to the trapped homeowner on the back patio.
Unable to move on his own and positioned only feet away from the fire, the man depended entirely on the deputies' quick actions.
The rescue has since attracted widespread attention online, with viewers praising the deputies for remaining calm while making split-second decisions in an extremely dangerous situation.
