The word hero evokes different images for different people. For some, that image is of a comic book hero such as Superman or Captain America. For others, the picture involves someone they look up to such as a parent or mentor. However, there are a few individuals in the world that give new meaning to the word hero. These are the people who do not wear flashy capes or tights. Instead, they wear badges, bunker gear, or scrubs. Their tools are not magical ropes or powerful rings. However, they still fight for humanity every day. Summers County is blessed to have some amazing heroes within its community. One such person is Police Officer Tad Withrow.
When a home in Hinton caught fire, Officer Withrow was the first on the scene. The family that lived there could not immediately be accounted for or located. Officer Withrow wasted no time in making sure the family was safe. He selflessly ran into the home in an effort to locate the mother and two children he knew lived in the home.
It is fairly common for police to arrive on the scene of a house fire before the fire department. The reason for this is the fact that police are generally already out on patrol and do not have far to travel. Officer Withrow had been on many fire scenes before but had always been able to easily account for the whereabouts of the occupants.
“Once I wasn’t able to account for the people living there, not much thought went into the decision of going inside of the house,” Withrow said.
Fortunately, the family was not home at the time of the fire.
Officer Withrow was taken to Summers County ARH Hospital soon after being inside the burning building. It was determined that he sustained some smoke and heat damage to his airway pathways. He was flown out to Cabell Huntington Hospital where he received further treatment.
Officer Withrow’s health is improving.
“I’m feeling a lot better thankfully. I still have a cough but it’s slowly going away,” Withrow said.
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