Two Omaha police officers who burst into a burning home to save the people inside are hailed as heroes.
Their quick actions as they saw flames pouring from the roof of a home on 30th Street, near Martin Avenue, were the difference between life and death.
Shameka Damper, a relative of the residents rescued from the home, says she is forever grateful for the officers who put their lives at risk to save her family.
Sunday evening, Damper was going through what was left of her childhood home.
“This is where the room where the fire started at,” she said. “As you can see he lost everything, all his clothes. He has nothing.”
Her mother, father and three brothers were getting ready for church earlier that day when a light in her brother’s closet sparked a fire.
“A lot of memories [are] burnt,” Damper said.
Meanwhile, Omaha officers Robbie Goering-Jenson and Anthony Abboud were on their way to to a call down the street when they saw the flames.
The officers helped Damper's father and brother outside the house. When they heard screams from inside, Goering-Jensen ran back in to help three more people from the home.
Her parents are in their 80s, and her three siblings all have physical disabilities, including one who uses a wheelchair.
They all survived without injuries.
"And one of the officers, the first officer that was on the scene, it was his first day on the job," Damper said.
Abboud graduated from the police training academy on Friday.
Goering-Jensen was transported for treatment for smoke inhalation.
"I thank that citizen. I thank the police. I thank the Omaha Fire Department because they were all helpful,” Damper said.
Despite all that was lost, Damper says she’s grateful.
"They have lost some material things, but they still have their lives," she said.
Goering-Jensen is no longer in the hospital.
Watch KMTV Action 3 News Upfront at 4 to hear from Officer Abboud.
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