LANZ CHRISTIAN BANES
Vallejo Times Herald

A Vallejo firefighter and police officer pulled a man from a burning trailer Saturday afternoon.

Dispatchers initially received a call at about 11:45 a.m. of a 24-foot travel trailer on fire with a person trapped inside, fire officials said in a statement.

Battalion Chief Patrick Dunn was the first to arrive on the scene in the 1300 block of Lincoln Road East, three minutes after the initial call, fire officials said.

Dunn, who reported heavy black smoke and fire coming from the rear of the trailer, was soon joined by Sgt. Kevin Bartlett of the Vallejo Police Department.

Dunn entered the burning trailer and found Robert Herwat, 58, unconscious on the floor. Together, Dunn and Bartlett pulled Herwat to safety as all of the city's active fire engines and the fire truck arrived, fire officials said.

As fire crews brought the trailer fire under control, paramedics used advanced life support measures on Herwat before transporting him to Sutter Solano Medical Center, fire officials said.

Herwat was listed in critical condition, sustaining second- and third-degree burns to more than 45 percent of his body, fire officials said. He was transferred to the burn center at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco.

The fire was deemed accidental, but investigators are waiting to interview Herwat before declaring an exact cause.

The fire caused about $4,000 in damage and left it unlivable, fire officials said.

Copyright 2011 The Times-Herald
All Rights Reserved
February 13, 2011