Woman rescues victim from burning home

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WALA) - FOX10 News spoke with a woman who ran into a burning home to rescue those inside.

As we previously reported, Ocean City-Wright Engine Three along with Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, and Okaloosa Island was dispatched to a fire in a home on Wheeler Drive in Fort Walton Beach around 3:30 a. m. on Sunday.

Tracey Stanley actually ran into the home while it was still on fire to help the three people stuck inside.

 Stanley was over visiting her family when a panicked knock came at the door around 3 a. m. from a resident of the home who had escaped the blaze.

Stanley and her stepfather, Glenn Morris, immediately ran next door. Stanley ran inside to try and find potential victims.

“You’re looking for any sign of hope; a voice, any movement, anything to guide you in the right direction because you don’t know which way to go or which rooms people are in," said Stanley.

 Navigating through the smoke, Stanley said she found one victim and led him outside.

But then she went back in to try again.

 “It was just very dense smoke. You could see little flickers and flashes of light but you didn’t know where they were coming from. Everything happened so fast that you just react,” Stanley said.

 But the fire department was quickly on scene, running into the home and getting Stanley out.

Officials said two more victims were then found inside the home.

Despite everything, Stanley said she just did what she felt was right.

 “I don’t think I did anything heroic. I really don’t. I just think I did what was necessary at the time. And I’d do it all over again. I’m always going to react,” said Stanley.

Officials said the three victims, identified as Richard Jones, Laura Jones and Hayley Stiller all suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation.

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department said Richard Jones was pronounced dead on Monday.

Officials said Laura Jones and Hayley Stiller were transported to a burn unit in Tallahassee.