Alert Radnor officer saves residents from garage fire

RADNOR >> A Radnor police officer on patrol noticed a fire at garage at a home on the 200 block of Pine Tree Road Tuesday evening and quickly evacuated residents from the house and called the fire department.

Radnor Fire Chief Joseph Maguire and Police Superintendent William Colarulo praised the actions of Officer Stephanie Racht, saying that she had likely prevented the residents, who were unaware of the fire, from being harmed.

“She was on routine patrol and noticed a fire,” said Colarulo. “She acted quickly responded to residents and got everybody out. She was alert and aggressive and did what she needed to do. Because of her, we avoided any tragedy.”

The fire department got the call just after 8 p.m. and the fire was under control in a half hour, said Maguire. But it spread from the attached garage into a den in the house, he said.

In addition to the Radnor Fire Co., firefighters from the Bryn Mawr, Berwyn, Gladwyn and King of Prussia fire companies also responded, said Maguire. One firefighter sustained a minor cut but there were no other injuries, he said.

“We left the scene at 10 p.m.,” Maguire said. He described the cause of the fire as “unintentional.”

The residents will be able to return home after the utilities are reconnected to the house.

Meanwhile, township officials plan to honor Racht at the board of commissioners meeting Monday night, Colarulo said.

“The manager (Robert Zienkowski) and I are very proud of her,” he said. Racht started with the department in January, one of three women on the Radnor police force, up from one when Colarulo began.

“We have a very difficult vetting process,” he said. But “We’re hoping to have more diversity (in the department).”