Man Arrested for Entering Burning Home [to save his dog]

News2 Nashville (also reported on MSNBC) ^ | Jennifer Thompson

[HairOfTheDog]

Man Arrested for Entering Burning Home

Reporter: Jennifer Thompson

The man arrested for rushing into a burning apartment to save his dog tells News 2 he'd do it all again.

Jarrod Martin is charged with recklessly endangering his life and the lives of firefighters working to put out a blaze at a west Nashville apartment complex. But he tells News 2 he had no choice; if he didn't act fast, the family dog was going to die.

Jarrod Martin tells News 2, Bishop is part of the family, so much so that when Jarrod returned to a burning home, he took drastic steps to save the pit bull locked inside.

"He would have been burnt. The floors were burnt, our couch and everything was gone," Jarrod said.

But Jarrod got into some serious trouble when going to rescue the one-year-old dog. Going against police demands, Jarrod broke through the safety zone and grabbed a firefighting tool.

Home video shows Jarrod breaking the glass to get to Bishop, then throwing the dog and himself over the balcony - a move police are condemning.

"What Mr. Martin did was very dangerous. He put his life in danger as well as the lives of firefighters on the scene," Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron said.

"He provided an opening for oxygen, which can easily cause a fire explosion, or what we call a backdraft," said Assistant Fire Chief Kim Lawson.

Jarrod was arrested at the scene and charged with disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. But to Jarrod, it's a move that warrants no regrets.

"I'd would have done again. I sure would."

Just like 16 other families displaced from Wednesday's fire, Jarrod and bishop will be staying with friends until he can find another place to live.

Fire investigators are still working to determine what caused the fire at the Premier West Apartments.

News 2 at 4
04.17.04

[HairOfTheDog]

Click on the source link to see the video of him saving the dog, and being led away in cuffs:

Nope.... You don't arrest the guy! I understand that what he did was dangerous, however there is nothing to be gained by arresting him. He is not likely to be tempted to jump into another fire in his lifetime, punishment or no.

[YaYa123]

My kind of guy!

[HairOfTheDog]

My kinda guy too. Check out the video clip! - It's pretty cool!

[Irene Adler]

I saw this on the news and sure hope neither he nor the dog was injured in the leap off the balcony. He had to act fast and threw the dog over the balcony railing before jumping, himself. When I saw that happen, I was afraid both dog and owner were going to be hurt when they hit the concrete below. I couldn't see whether there was anybody in place to block their fall.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah - He just hucked the dog off the balcony and then jumped.

The guy was walking without limping when they led him away. A later clip showed the dog standing without splints or bandages, so I think they escaped without getting hurt!

[FourPeas]

I'll admit to not being a firefighter, but my dad was one and regularly told me that if ever caught in a burning building I should break out a window to provide oxygen to breathe. I've even witnessed firefighters breaking windows for that very purpose.

I'd do the very same thing if it had been my pet. The position of the police and firefighters is understandable, but they really need to cut this guy some slack.

[HairOfTheDog]

they really need to cut this guy some slack.

No kidding. He may have created a risk, but in the light of no harm being done, perhaps the only punishment needed was a lecture.

Arresting him is just plain silly. Gonna guess the courts in Nashville have bigger troubles to deal with than this. Like people who actually commit crimes with malice.

[Born to Conserve]

You can't say bad things about firemen, but that fact is, many of them are total assholes, only concerned with their power over others. Blowing their freaking horns and sirens when there is absolutly no valid reason, arresting people for not bowing down to them, and often, lighting the damn fires themselves.

I know of multiple arson fires where the investigation was dropped because it was pointing to a fireman -- "electrical", "spontainious combustion" -- yeah right, whatever.

It's PC incorrect, but I have to say that their authority is way out of control

[sheikdetailfeather]

I do understand it was dangerous but I also love the way he leaped in and saved his beloved dog.

[George W. Bush]

"I'd would have done again. I sure would."

He'd better wise up and not repeat this in front of a judge.

I notice that there is no proof offered that the dog would have died had he not done this reckless thing, only his own opinion offered as a justification for his actions.

Sympathy for man's best friend aside, if there were people trapped inside the building and/or firefighters searching for them, our dog-lover might easily have killed them by breaking open that window which could have fed the fire elsewhere.

No one was hurt this time. But people need to understand that they have to obey their fire department in an emergency. Just like on 9/11, these people risk their lives and it should not be even more dangerous because people decide to take firefighting into their own hands.

I expect the judge will make this very clear to our hero. He'll get a heavy fine and maybe a few months in jail for this stunt.

[goldstategop]

Gives a whole new meaning to saving a man's best friend.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I would go back into a burning house to get my dog, if there was the slightest chance of saving him. Not rational, but there you are. Everything doesn't HAVE to make sense!

[HairOfTheDog]

He'll get a heavy fine and maybe a few months in jail for this stunt.

I seriously doubt it.

There is video of the fire. The place was fully engulfed, no question the dog would have died but for his actions.

[Coop]

You can't say bad things about firemen, but that fact is, many of them are total assholes, only concerned with their power over others. Blowing their freaking horns and sirens when there is absolutly no valid reason, arresting people for not bowing down to them, and often, lighting the damn fires themselves. I know of multiple arson fires where the investigation was dropped because it was pointing to a fireman -- "electrical", "spontainious combustion" -- yeah right, whatever. It's PC incorrect, but I have to say that their authority is way out of control

Read this swill again and tell me who's out of control.

[cynicom]

Perhaps you never owned a dog???

[Maximum Leader]

LOL,

Come on, tell us what you really thing, don't hold back this time!

:o)

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Yeah, there are some very strange folks who act out theiir little fanatsies here on FR. I seriously doubt that this maroon is going to go down to his local Fire Station and repeat this stuff...

[sinkspur]

I expect the judge will make this very clear to our hero. He'll get a heavy fine and maybe a few months in jail for this stunt.

You've got to be kidding. Likely the charges will be dropped.

If the man requests a jury trial on the charges, there's no jury in America that wouldn't find him "not guilty."

This would be a PR nightmare for the city of Nashville.

[CincinnatusVA]

Thanks for the post. For those who wish to get involved, the following addresses may be helpful:

The Mayor of Nashville, Bill Purcell:
mayor@metro.nashville.org

News 2, Nashville:
feedback@wkrn.com, or
ghorn@wkrn.com

Mike Cutler, News Director, News Channel 5 (also carried story):
mcutler@newschannel5.com

[ambrose]

oh but no, he committed the worst crime imaginable---"disobeying" a police officer.