Two St. Louis Park police officers help save children from burning home







Billowing smoke, growing flames and children trapped inside. St. Louis Park Police Officers Bryan Kruelle and Eric Winckler knew immediately this fire was different.

"I think that's one of the worst calls you can have, 'a child is in danger,'" Kruelle said.

Kruelle first pulled up to the fire and quickly learned children were still inside the burning home.

"There wasn't much going through my mind at that point other than there's kids in the house," Kruelle said.

With no time to wait for firefighters to arrive, the officer pushed open the door and peered through the black smoke -- seeing finally a young child.

"[He] came stumbling out of the door and collapsed in the entryway," Kruelle said.

Kruelle scooped him up into his arms -- just as Officer Winckler arrived.

"I saw Officer Kruelle at the front door, I saw a child in his arms," Winckler said.

With his colleague caring for the child, Officer Winckler searched for any others.

"I crawled to the ground and looked with my flashlight, unfortunately I couldn't see anyone -- the smoke was just too thick," Winckler said.

But just as the officers faced down the wall of smoke, reenforcements arrived. Firefighters were able to find the remaining children and woman in the home. The family was brought to safety by people who, of course, say they're just doing their jobs.

"I don't think I did anything different than any other officer would've done," Kruelle said.

"Any of us officers would do the same thing in the same situation," Winckler said.

Investigators believe the fire started on the kitchen stove.

Meantime, the five children in the home range in age from one to seven years old. The woman who was also pulled to safety by firefighters is believed to be the mother of only some of the five children in the home. The Hennepin County Medical Center spokesman said one boy remains in critical condition, another boy and mother are in satisfactory condition.

By Karla Hult, KARE 11 News

"I don't think I did anything different than any other officer would've done," Kruelle said.

"Any of us officers would do the same thing in the same situation," Winckler said.

As many of you know, I've long been rather impressed with and fond of SLPPD; good bunch of folks, and the retired guys who were in positions to hire tend to point to and talk with pride about the guys that they hired.