GREENFIELD, Ind.
--
Police officers' quick work ensured three people were able to escape a raging house fire in Hancock County early Friday morning.
The fire began at about 2 a.m. in the 1000 block of Muskegon Drive, in the Copeland Farms neighborhood on Greenfield's northwest side, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.
Stacy Van Horn and her two teenage children, Colin and Shayne, were inside the home when the fire began. Stacy's husband, James Van Horn, is a Pike Township firefighter and was on duty at the time.
The family was alerted to the fire when one of the children heard something and woke up the rest of the family.
Investigators said it was impossible for the victims to get down the stairs of the home because the fire was spreading quickly.
Greenfield police Officer Josh Mullins, who was among four people first at the scene, told the teens to jump down from the second-floor of the home.
"We heard three subjects screaming from the window," Mullins said. "When I got there, we advised them that they needed to jump. It was the only option. We didn't have time for the fire department to get here."
The teens jumped head-first toward a concrete patio, and Mullins broke their fall. The mother then jumped, too.
"I caught the male and female, I guess the brother and sister," Mullins said. "The mom, before I could get turned around, jumped out, and she hit the ground pretty hard."
All three victims were taken to hospitals to be checked out or treated. Mullins was treated at the scene.
Firefighters credited the actions of Mullins and the other officers with saving the lives of the victims.
"I would call him a lifesaver," said Greenfield Fire Chief Jim Roberts. "He at least got them from any further injuries."
"It's just what we do. It's just a job. If I was in street clothes, we'd have done the same thing," Mullins said.
Fire investigators initially thought the fire was intentionally set but said late Friday morning that its origin was unknown, but not suspicious.
The fire also damaged the two homes on each side of the one that burned.
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