Hero saves woman from burning building

The call of duty can come at any time. Perryville Police Sgt. Garrett Schott answered that call in one of the most heroic ways possible.
Schott rushed into a burning apartment twice, without any protective gear, to rescue a woman in her mid-40s from a fire at the Creekwood Apartments Building E at 1501 Alma Avenue at 10:53 p.m. on the night of July 3.
“Sgt. Schott’s actions were one of the finest examples of dedication to public safety that I have ever seen,” Assistant Perryville Fire Chief Bill Jones said. “They were nothing short of heroic.
Sgt. Schott found the woman on his second sweep of the apartment and he then, along with Officers Jeremy Tenney and Stephanie Rumsey, managed to bring the unconscious woman outside, where they immediately began efforts to resuscitate her.
“Garrett was on duty as a police officer and he had a trainee with him,” Jones said. “They were the first on the scene. Garrett went in because he was approached about there being one, if not three, victims inside. He dropped down beneath the layer of smoke and began a search.”
The victim was placed into an ambulance and transported to a landing zone and flown to a St. Louis Burn Center. Jones noted that Schott is also a Captain in the Perryville Fire Department and has the proper training.
“He knows what the risks are,” Jones said. He knew how far he can go, but he also knew what he needed to do. In communities this size you don’t see too many examples of firefighters running into a building without fire protection and dragging people out. Maybe in cities like St. Louis that happens more often.”

Her present condition is unknown, but Jones noted that she was in critical condition before being flown out. Schott and Tenney were transported by ambulance to Perry County Memorial Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and later released. Perryville firefighter Brian Bodendieck was transported to PCMH by fire department vehicle and treated for smoke inhalation before being released.
“Probably the most critical thing to happen that saved her life was that the three officers began resuscitation efforts right away,” Jones said. “However, without Garrett going in there and pulling her out, there is no question she would not have survived.
Biehle and Chester Fire Departments were called for mutual aid to assist Perryville. Jones said they needed a lot of extra manpower to give the fire fighters a chance to get a break as the hot temperatures and high humidity took their toll.
The heaviest parts of the blaze were contained to apartment E5 and in one room.
“The room had already flashed over on our arrival and was venting fire about six feet out,” Jones said. “It was held to one apartment and one room and its contents. Even though it is a long line of apartments, E5 was the only apartment that could not be lived in that night.”
The cause of the fire has been listed as accidental, possibly caused by smoking materials.
Fire units were on the scene until 4:52 a.m. July 4.
“Garrett knew that the danger was high that night,” Jones said. “Yet he still took it upon himself to save a life.”