"I trust my partners with my life, so running in there I know they have my back," he told the news outlet.
Once inside, police found two elderly residents who appeared disoriented and unaware of the severity of the fire. As officers cleared the home, electrical transformers malfunctioned overhead, and live lines began whipping and falling onto the street.
Officers can be heard shouting warnings about the erupting lines, and Zappone explained how the electrical dangers included more than simply coming in contact with the lines or transformers.
"People are worrying about the fire, but the danger is coming out because electricity can jump," Zappone told WFLA. "Those lines don’t actually have to hit you. They can jump by two or three feet and make connection with you."
"When those lines started blowing closer to us, that’s clearly not a good place to be," added Stevens.
He and other officers carried a resident out of the house and made sure to get her to spot away from the immediate danger.
"Our priority was getting everyone out and away from those lines," Stevens told WFLA.
One person was taken to the hospital, and another was treated at the scene for minor burns. No police officers or other first responders were injured during the incident.
The fire destroyed the home, and the incident is under investigation.
"Sarasota Police officers don’t just enforce the law, they save lives," said Police Chief Rex Troche said in a statement. "When others are running out, our officers are running in. That’s the commitment they make to this community every single day. I’m incredibly proud of their courage and their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others."
