Does the term "private property" ring a bell, or are you a supporter of Plank #1 of Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto?
Private property isn’t part of this equation. This was a real emergency that the police didn’t create. The problem is an irrational homeowner pissing on a fire of sufficient size to engulf him and his property. The officers are sworn to protect both. It appears in this case that they chose to protect life by preventing him from terminating his in a reckless manner.
To be sure they will be second guessed and vilified, but had they let the fool get between the buildings and become a roast, they would have been held responsible for not stopping him. Sometimes it’s far better to let common sense prevail over emotion. Let’s try to condemn the police for their intentional trampling of our rights.