3 Arlington police officers help clear burning complex

Three police officers were treated for minor injuries Tuesday after they rushed through a burning apartment complex to try to get people outside, officials reported.

Officers K. Johnson and B. Cruz were taken to Medical Center of Arlington where they were treated for smoke inhalation. An unidentified officer was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.

The fire at the complex in the 2000 block of Valleywood Drive reached three alarms and affected 16 units, but no other injuries were reported, according to Tiara Richard, a police spokeswoman.

The officers were working an unrelated disturbance call at the complex when they saw smoke about 5 p.m. and investigated. Johnson carried a child to safety while Cruz helped evacuate an adult and two children from a unit filled with heavy smoke, police said.

Neither officer wanted any attention, saying they only did what any other officer faced with the same situation would do, police said.

Four units were heavily damaged by the fire but it could not be learned late Tuesday how many residents were displaced.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 10:50 PM with the headline "3 Arlington police officers help clear burning complex."