The El Dorado County Fire Protection District's own, Captain/Paramedic Jacob Poganski, jumped into action on the evening of Sunday, July 10, pulling the unconscious driver of an SUV to safety even as flames engulfed the vehicle.

Jacob and his wife, Christy, were returning from an evening out when they happened upon the accident on Eastbound Interstate 80 near Antelope. Jacob noticed that the driver was slumped over the steering wheel and that the vehicle's engine compartment was on fire. Wearing only flip flops, shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, Jacob raced to the vehicle, pried the door open, and pulled the driver to safety as flames pushed through the dashboard and into the footwell.

The El Dorado County Fire District is is proud of—but not surprised by—Captain Poganski's selfless act of heroism Sunday night.

Captain/Paramedic Poganski has proudly served the residents of El Dorado County since 2007. He is the president of the International Association Of Fire Fighters - Local 3556, is an American Heart Association CPR instructor, and functions as a public information officer for the District.

 

Find additional coverage here:

Mountain Democrat

https://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/fire-captain-always-on-the-job/

KOVR 13, CBS Sacramento

 

CBS Los Angeles

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/off-duty-firefighters-pulls-unconscious-passenger-from-burning-vehicle-in-el-dorado-county/