A sheriff’s deputy in western Iowa likely saved the lives a family in the town of Brayton this morning. Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson says the deputy was on routine patrol when he spotted a house fire.
Johnson says Deputy Jason Rokke was passing through Brayton at 4 a.m. when he smelled smoke and found it was coming from the attic vents of a home at 307 Reynolds Street. Rokke first alerted the local fire department.
“He went to the residence, woke up two adults and two kids, got them out and into an SUV to stay warm,” Sheriff Johnson said. “At that time, the fire department arrived and went to put out the fire.” Firefighters from Brayton and Exira remained on the scene for about two hours.
Sheriff Johnson said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The 27-year-old Rokke has served as a deputy with the Audubon County Sheriff’s Department for one year.
By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic