Lyons Illinois police officer Charles Wright rushes into burning building & ends up hospitalized with smoke inhalation

About 14 hours after Lyons Police Officer Charles Wright rescued two residents from a smoke-filled apartment building, he sat in his home on Monday afternoon and downplayed his death-defying effort.

“We help people; that’s what police officers do,” said Wright, a 29-year-veteran of the department who grew up in Lyons. “It’s just routine.”

Tenants of the building disagree. And, while Wright’s may have been the most dramatic example of heroism at the fire in the six-unit apartment building, others joined him during and after the blaze.

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