Alertness and quick thinking helped an Early Police officer save the lives of a young family from their burning home on Lucas Drive early Saturday morning, according to Early Police Chief David Mercer.

Early Police Officer Steven Means was on patrol in the city of Early when he noted the smell of smoke in the area of Early Blvd. and Lucas Drive Saturday morning around 3:00am.  Means located the fire coming from the rooftop of a house in the 100 block of Lucas Drive and immediately called to have fire units dispatched to the fire.

Mercer said that Means began knocking on the door and initially didn’t get any answer; however he did hear the smoke alarms going off in the home but could not see any movement.  As he was preparing to make a forced entry into the home, he saw a female get up from a bed near the window.  Officer Means alerted the female of the fire and helped her, her husband, and their 9-month-old baby get out of the house.

Mercer said that Officer Stephanie Haile arrived to assist Officer Means and together they searched the house to make sure no one else was in the home and then removed the family pets.  The home was damaged, but not a total loss according to Chief Mercer.

“Steven did good and I don’t think he realized the fact that he probably saved their lives until he and I were discussing it,” stated Chief Mercer.  “He said he was just doing his job, which is what makes him a great asset for this department and city.”