Last Saturday at approximately 8:12 a.m., Bainbridge Public Safety and Decatur County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a structure fire at King West Apartments and saved a woman trapped inside.

Upon arrival, fire crews noticed heavy black smoke coming from an apartment. Firefighters then forced entry through the front door, after neighbors had tried to bust out the window and were unsuccessful.

Firefighters were met with heavy smoke and heat conditions and determined the fire had started in the living room from one of the two couch cushions.

While conducting an interior search, firefighters found a female victim inside the bathroom. The victim was unresponsive when found, so firefighters had to find her an immediate way out. They broke out a hallway window and the victim was removed from the structure and able to get fresh air.

Grady EMS was on scene and gave the victim immediate medical attention, who was then brought back to responsive status. She was quickly transported to Bainbridge Memorial Hospital where she was lifeflighted to a regional burn center.

Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Fire Chief Doyle Welch said everyone did a great job.

“The County fire department, BPS and the EMS all did their best to get her out of there as fast as they could,” Welch said. “A great team effort from all agencies involved helped this incident have a positive outcome.”

All agencies involved have given their thoughts and prayers to the victim and her family during this time and hope she will be able to return to her home.